UPDATE: Police arrest teen after robbery at credit union in Mishawaka

By WSBT-TV and SUE LOWE, Tribune Staff Writer

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Robbery Credit Union Center Mishawaka

A man suspected of robbing a customer who was making a deposit at the Credit Union Center in Mishawaka is brought back to the scene to be identified by employees on October 13, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Oct 13, 2008 at 9:22 AM EST

Story Updated: Oct 13, 2008 at 12:20 PM EST

MISHAWAKA — An 18-year-old was arrested Monday morning within 10 minutes after a robbery at a credit union on the western edge of Mishawaka.

Mishawaka police said a Little Caesars Pizza employee was making a deposit at an ATM in the lobby of the Credit Union Center on the northwest corner of Edison and Hickory roads about 9:30 a.m. when a man came up behind her, grabbed the deposit bag and ran.

The suspect ran south across Edison Road, eventually ending up in the Edison Gardens apartment complex, according to police.

South Bend and Mishawaka police found the suspect inside the apartment complex, and the money and clothes worn at the time of the robbery at a fence the suspect apparently jumped to get into the complex.

Police said the teen was identified by witnesses.

"If you want an attorney with you before answering any questions, we will have to go ahead and give you one, you understand?" an officer told the suspect as he was put in the back of a squad car.

The suspect was taken to the county jail on preliminary charges of robbery.

Wednesday, Oct 15 at 7:51 AM To kevin: wrote ...

that was hilarious!

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 5:04 PM Margareth wrote ...

This poor guy probably did not have job and money so he decided to hold up those credit unions. If you do it once you will do it all the time. Money does not come easy you have to work for it. Now if he is on dope or any other drug then it is possible that he needs counseling. Why are you doing this to yourself=? Your life is starting and your have to realize that money is not the end of all things. Work and sweat to get your pennies then you will be satisfied.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 12:52 PM face reality wrote ...

The trouble with a low IQ is, if you have one, you don't really FEEL like you have one. Even if your IQ is 82, you can FEEL like a genius. And you can't be told. Any words spoken by someone with a high IQ get processed by the low IQ brain and turned into something that wasn't in the speakers mind. This is why James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA molecule, urged that medical science find a cure for feeble mindedness. It's the source of all misery in this world, intended or not.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 10:40 AM NO EXCUSES wrote ...

I'm sorry this kid was dealth a bad hand, but I was too and I never stole anything. I was badly abused as a kid, dropped out of school to support myself, married and divorced an abuser, had a kid I had to support on my own, and never got help from any family. I did every crummy job there was to survive and finished my education later in my adult years, but I NEVER robbed anyone or stole anything. NO EXCUSES for this guy.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 10:34 AM Jac wrote ...

McDonalds managers make decent money. Get a job dude.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 9:47 AM Bill wrote ...

TO NICOLE- lots of people have stuff to deal with. Having a "tuff" life is no excuse for this kind of behavior! Thug life is full of misery, yet it is sold to your young people as an end. Don't give me this Hug-A-Thug crap because we are not buying it! You want to help him? then tell him he messed up and encourage him to do something with his life, go to school, get involved in a trade, life in this country is NOT hard. Thugs have to want to do something productive not destructive.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 8:57 AM kevin wrote ...

I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Your pants are too loud.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 8:56 AM R. wrote ...

Good Kids dont rob banks, I bet he wants to be a rapper.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:39 AM dave wrote ...

Where are all those cop haters? I'm waiting for a "surprised the cops didn't shoot him!" comment. Oh and by the way, for the bleeding hearts who feel this poor young man didn't get a break in life...give us a break! Excuses and more excuses. Cut grass, flip burgers, wash cars, dig ditches! Of course, that's actual work and would require effort on his part and getting up before noon and quit the Play Station for awhile.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:27 AM Frank wrote ...

It is nice that someone stuck her neck out and is supporting this young man. It sounds like a challenging situation. But bad hand or not, the vast majority of us have huge life challenges but never end up robbing banks. There is a such thing as getting a job as a means to make money.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:13 AM 12:06 PM Anonymous wrote ...

2:40 PM City Worker, I stand corrected. I forgot how Hickory used to go straight south to Edison and this used to be a funky intersection. I live two blocks south of this place. Ever since SB built the Edison Gardens slum and the Save-A Lot/Family Dollar shopping plaza, this part of town has become lowlife central.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 6:15 AM bee cont. wrote ...

this boy needs to learn how to be a REAL MAN and get a REAL job.college for all would be nice but get REAL.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 6:12 AM bee wrote ...

to mr.writeYERrep.i think you need to go back to grade school to learn,not just how to spell, but about how the kids need free lunches now.im sure they arent thinking about a college degree.they want to eat so they can think about schoolwork and not their empty belly. didnt you read about how college kids are worried and about the young man talking about how he WORKS for his?i couldnt afford college,and i am a very worthwhile, caring,working person.alot of kids CANT AFFORD college.

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 1:19 AM Frank wrote ...

What is this college degree garbage? Does this mean that because people don't go to college, their only alternative is robbing banks? That's crazy and the writer should be embarrassed for suggesting this. Learn a skill or trade, and you'll find yourself very valuable in the job market. This guy deserves jail time, but I'm afraid that since it was in St. Joseph County, he'll probably run free. There are lots of non-college-degree honest people working among us.

Monday, Oct 13 at 10:52 PM NICOLE wrote ...

IT'S SO EASY FOR OTHER POEPLE TO JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE. NOT GIVING HIM A REASON TO ROB THAT BANK. BUT THIS KID HAD GOT A BAD HAND DELT TO HIM. HIS MOM NEVER BEEN THERE WAS ON DRUGS GRAND MOTHER WHO WAS DYING OF CANCER LEFT TO CARE FOR HIM AND HIS YOUGER BROTHER WHO HE HAS NOT SEEN IN 8 YEARS. IT'S SO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO DOWN OTHER PEOPLE NOT KNOWING THERE BACK GROUND. HE IS REALLY A GOOD KID. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HE IS IN YOUR HOUSE HE'S SO QUIET. B I LOVE YOU AND WILL LET YOUR BACKGROUND KNOWN.

Monday, Oct 13 at 10:38 PM M. wrote ...

He was wearing smiley face pants ( I think they were pajamas) and the police said that made him easier to identify. I'm sorry, but I don't believe this guy is the brightest bulb on the tree.

Monday, Oct 13 at 7:53 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I no times are getting really hard but its no need to ROB banks.I hate to see what HALLOWEEN is going to be like.

Monday, Oct 13 at 3:46 PM writetereep wrote ...

You are an Idiot, so lets just all rob banks that cant go to college. You must be a looser yourself get a life than a college aducation and YOU quit robbing people

Monday, Oct 13 at 3:42 PM mish res wrote ...

He'll be back out in a few days and do it again were paying for him to be in jail now so either way he got our money

Monday, Oct 13 at 2:48 PM Mr. writeyerrep wrote ...

There's no place for inferior people in this society. The more our society says, "college or nothing" the more robberies there will be simply because most of us just aren't equal to the task of college work. I know they try harder and harder to offer majors that don't require much more than high school level mental work; but that still leaves many people who can't manage that much, and they have no where to go, and no place to be. We need to stop with this business of "a college degree for all"

Monday, Oct 13 at 1:50 PM Queeny wrote ...

Job well done!

Monday, Oct 13 at 1:40 PM City Worker wrote ...

This credit union does have a South Bend address but because Hickory Rd curves East it is in Mishawaka

Monday, Oct 13 at 1:24 PM Wally wrote ...

I was just robbed. It was an inside job. It looks like the thieves are going to get away. I think a bail-out was used to insure the thieves got to keep all of the money. It also looks like all my neighbors across the whole country got robbed to. Lugar, Bayh, Souder and Donnelly all voted for it. Well it looks like the crime in this article is almost nothing by comparison.

Monday, Oct 13 at 12:45 PM rick wrote ...

Start with a hand. Then move up to the arm. Eventually people will get the picture. In places this happens, stealing is not very common for obvious reasons.

Monday, Oct 13 at 12:40 PM Jason wrote ...

The FDIC needs to shut that credit union down. It is obvious that it is a threat to the employees and surrounding community. 3 robberies in 13 months is unacceptable!

Monday, Oct 13 at 12:18 PM Marty wrote ...

Gosh oh goodness what was he thinking! Those pants look like something even MC Hammer would have sneered at in 19EIGHTYTHREE! I am so glad no one was hurt and hopefully this guy will get the help, and the PANTS, he needs. Oooh.. I just had a thought, maybe they are PJ pants? Was he sleep robbing?? If so, I think they should probably let him off!

Monday, Oct 13 at 12:12 PM wow wrote ...

next time where more discrete clothing! those pants scream "its me!"

Monday, Oct 13 at 12:05 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Great Job MPD SBPD.. Did Mr. WOW assist you by obtaining a plate number?

Monday, Oct 13 at 12:00 PM pete wrote ...

If you start cuting there fingers off, they will not steal anymore

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:46 AM FedUpInSouthBend wrote ...

YEAH!!! the good guys win another one! Now lets catch all the rest of the bank robbers and other assorted thieves!

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:19 AM Harley wrote ...

Send him up creek! Great job to the law enforcement!

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:19 AM Wally wrote ...

I was just robbed. It was an inside job. It looks like the thieves are going to get away. I think a bail-out was used to insure the thieves got to keep all of the money. It also looks like all my neighbors across the whole country got robbed to. Lugar, Bayh, Souder and Donnelly all voted for it. Well it looks like the crime in this article is almost nothing by comparison.

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:14 AM Frank wrote ...

Natural selection at work. That's good stuff. Unfortunately, we'll all be paying for his lodging and his criminal defense.

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:08 AM john wrote ...

Another dumb criminal. This guy would really stand out in crowd by the color of his pants

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:06 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This Credit Union is actually in South Bend, not Mishawaka.

Monday, Oct 13 at 11:03 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Good job SBPD! Got him!! Now lets forego the long trial by jury and take him out in front of the County Courthouse and string him up! We need to bring back PUBLIC EXECUTIONS!! Once you see one, you might change your mind about ever committing a crime. All those that are in jail currently should be REQUIRED TO WATCH IT! Bet they will turn into productive citizens finally!

Monday, Oct 13 at 10:55 AM crazy wrote ...

theres people bashing and talking trash about the one cop who hit the ped but noone is on here congratulating the officers who took this scumbag down WTG another one off the streets

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