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Suspect in bank robbery arraigned
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
A 44-year-old resident of the Timbercreek Apartments on North Road in Niles is in the Trumbull County jail, charged with committing the Saturday morning robbery of the First Place Bank branch in Howland.
Howland police arrested Timothy L. Finnigan, 1209 North Road, at 9:45 a.m. Monday after officers and the public identified him Saturday.
Police released a bank surveillance photo Saturday of the man who committed the robbery. He had dark and gray hair and a mustache — much like the booking photo of Finnigan.
Howland detectives were able to identify Finnigan as a suspect within a few hours after the robbery, and 26 of 28 calls to the department’s tip line also identified Finnigan as the robber, said Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe.
The robber entered the bank, at 8226 E. Market St., about 11 a.m. Saturday and passed a note to a teller saying, “Need money to feed kids, give me your money.” He also indicated verbally to the teller that he was armed, though no weapon was seen, Monroe said.
Finnigan left the area for Cleveland after the robbery, but a tip led Howland police to a doctor’s office on East Market Street in Warren at 9:45 a.m. Monday, where they met Finnigan and took him into custody.
Monroe said police have recovered some of the money believed to have been stolen from the bank. He credited his officers and the public for combining to solve the crime in less than 48 hours.
Howland police previously encountered Finnigan as a result of a police call to the Capri Motel, 8033 E. Market, near Howland High School, in March, Monroe said.
Finnigan was living at the motel at the time but had a residence at the Timbercreek apartments more recently.
Finnigan pleaded innocent to the robbery charge Monday afternoon in Warren Municipal Court. He is in the jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.
If convicted, he could get up to eight years in prison. He returns to court at 10:15 a.m. next Tuesday.
Finnigan was arrested by Warren police July 21 and charged with petty theft and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors.
Finnigan was convicted of petty theft and criminal trespass in 2004 for an incident that occurred in Warren, according to Warren Municipal Court records.
He also had lived on 10th Street in Weathersfield Township in 2006, according to reports at the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office.