Tosa Police Ask Public's Aid in Identifying Robber in M&I Bank Hold-Up

Wauwatosa police have released photos and are seeking the help of anyone who might be able to identify the man who robbed an branch Wednesday.

According to a report approved at the same time as the photos and a press release were issued:

At 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, an unknown black male subject entered the bank at 9210 W. North Ave. and approached the lone teller on duty in the front. She told police that he entered purposefully, scanned the room and locked his eyes on her, and she knew in that moment she was going to be robbed.

He walked straight for her and, when a few feet away, said, "This is not a joke. I will kill you." He then pushed a note at her that read, "I want all the money in your drawer."

The report did not say that he ever showed a weapon or referred to one directly, but the teller said she feared for her life as he repeatedly told her to hurry.

He put a bag on the counter and the teller put an undisclosed amount of money from her drawer next to it. He picked up the money and the bag and fled.

The teller hit the silent alarm behind her counter and then went to tell her supervisor.

There were no customers in the bank lobby at the time of the robbery, but a man was entering just as the robber left. He said the man had his head down and did not make eye contact.

He said that after he was in the lobby he glanced out a window and saw the man running through the alley behind the bank and thought it suspicious.

The witness gave substantially the same physical description as did the teller. Neither thought they would be likely to recognize him if they saw him again because he was wearing a hat and sunglasses.

The official police description from the teller, witness and video images is this: A black male in his 30s, 6-feet to 6-feet, 2-inches tall, 160 to 165 pounds, with a medium brown complexion, short mustache and goatee, a small gold stud in each ear and a distinctive tattoo in the general shape of an X on the left side of his neck.

He wore a brown baseball cap, sunglasses and a Navy blue sweat jacket with a dark T-shirt underneath.

According to the press release, the same suspect is believed to have robbed the US Bank at 2303 N. Farwell Ave. in Milwaukee on Jan. 5, possibly  making his getaway in dark full-size sedan, possibly a Chevy Impala.

The police ask anyone who may recognize the suspect or who has any information about the robberies to call the Detective Bureau at 414-471-8430. Callers can remain anonymous.