NILES BANK ROBBERY Accused son is troubled, dad says

The teenager was ordered held without bond.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- George Menkello admits his 16-year-old son robbed a Niles bank, but says the teenager has emotional problems.
The boy, Anthony Menkello, also may have been trying to help out his family financially, the father asserts.
"My kid robbed a bank," Menkello said, suggesting there are circumstances that may have triggered his actions. "He has emotional problems."
Menkello spoke of his son and family difficulties as the teenager was about to appear Tuesday in Trumbull County Family Court on charges of aggravated robbery, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.
Anthony was ordered held in the county juvenile center without bond. No hearing date was set.
Menkello said Anthony has been diagnosed as being anti-social and bipolar. The father said that his wife leaving the family 2 1/2 years ago may have had something to do with his son's problems.
Anthony is accused of stealing a car in Girard, robbing the Cortland Bank branch in Niles on U.S. Route 422 of about $6,200, crashing the car in McKinley Heights about a mile away, and being caught after a short foot chase Friday afternoon.
Although no weapon was used, the teenager indicated he had one, police said.
Living in area
The family from Fargo, N.D., has been living in a motel in the Austintown area. Menkello said he moved to this area because of the lower housing costs and his attempt to get a liver transplant at a Pittsburgh hospital. He also suffers from congestive heart failure.
Without the transplant, Menkello said, he won't survive. Menkello claims he hasn't been able to get any public assistance. Because of this, he said, Anthony may have wanted the money from the bank to help the family.
Sitting on a bench in family court, Menkello asserted that his son hasn't been in any previous trouble with the law.
After the bank robbery, a customer got into his vehicle and chased the car the robber was driving to McKinley Heights, where it crashed.
yovich@vindy.com