Dad accused of robbery claims it was for daughter's cancer treatments
DETROIT -- A man told police that he robbed a bank in South Lyon to pay for his infant daughter's chemotherapy treatment, according to the Detroit Free Press.
However, when the suspect, Brian Randolph, 23, was caught two days later, authorities say they found some items that may contradict that claim. The car he was driving had a Gucci bag, several high-end clothing items and a pair of shoes, most of which were newly purchased, said Lt. Chris Sovik of the South Lyon Police Department, according to the Detroit Free Press.
"I can certainly understand. You want to do everything you can to protect your daughter. But there are lots of fathers whose daughters have cancer as well, and you don't see them out there robbing banks all the time," said Sovik, according to the Detroit paper.
The incident began right when the bank opened on Aug. 12, Randolph walked into the Vibe Credit Union in South Lyon while wearing a hat and glasses (neither of which did much to cover his face). He then reportedly passed the teller a note, which said that he wanted $20,000, that he had a shotgun in his pants and that the teller should act as if nothing is wrong, Sovik said.
Randolph left with just over $8,100 in cash, reports the paper, and no weapon was ever found.
When police posted photos of the man to Facebook, they got a tip that helped them identify Randolph within about 12 hours of the robbery, according to the paper.
Randolph was arrested after authorities began tailing him and pulled him over in Detroit on Aug. 14, says the Detroit station. In the car, authorities found a Gucci bag with clothing and accessories, the new shirts and clothes, and new tennis shoes in his size in the front seat.
They also recovered $3,100 in cash which Randolph told authorities he had paid multiple months' worth of rent with the money.
During a later interview, Randolph said he carried out the robbery because his daughter, who is less than 2 years old, has cancer, and due to an apparent "snafu," she wasn't covered by state health insurance, Sovik said, according to the paper.
Sovik said that he has not yet confirmed whether his statements are true.
Randolph is currently being held on a $500,000 bail, reports the Detroit Free Press. He faces one count of armed robbery and another count of bank robbery. That maximum sentences of which could yield life in prison.