Authorities Say Bank Robber Immediately Bought Car With Stolen Cash
MT. CLEMENS (WWJ) - An 18-year-old Washington Township man is behind bars after police say he robbed a bank and quickly bought an SUV with the stolen cash.
Michael Mohamed Salami is being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond following a video arraignment in 41B District Court on Monday.
He was arrested last Thursday in connection with a robbery that afternoon at Talmer Bank & Trust, on Main Street in Mt. Clemens.
According to Macomb County Sheriff's officials, Salami walked up to a bank teller and handed him a note announcing a robbery. The note said that he had a gun, but no weapon was seen.
The teller placed an undisclosed amount of money on the counter, witnesses said, and Salami grabbed the cash and ran.
Using security video footage from the bank and the city, detectives were able to track the suspect down to the Victory Inn on North River Road. Salami and his clothing — including distinctive shoes that were black with bright orange stripes — matched a description of the suspect provided by bank employees, Sheriff's officials said. He was arrested.
Still on the scene, deputies were approached by the owner of a nearby car dealership who told deputies that he had just sold the man a Mercury Mountaineer a few minutes earlier — in a cash transaction.
Sheriff's officials said it's believed that the SUV was purchased with the proceeds from the bank robbery.
The vehicle was impounded.
Salami remains in the Macomb County Jail, charged with bank robbery. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 21.
