Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
On Sunday March 17, Ypsilanti police arrested Derrick Jackson in connection with the weekend robbery of TCF Bank in Ypsilanti Township. The bank, located at 2150 Packard Road, was robbed on Saturday; police responded after the holdup alarm went off at approximately 2:25 p.m.
Following the robbery, deputies searched the vicinity but were unable to locate the suspect, who was described as a white male approximately 5’6″ tall and weighing 165 pounds. Witnesses also said the suspect was wearing a red jacket, but underneath was a dress shirt and tie. According to Sgt. Geoffrey Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department, no weapon was observed on bank surveillance camera photos during the commission of the robbery.
While the suspect did elude authorities on Saturday, he wasn’t so lucky on Sunday. The Ypsilanti officer who spotted Jackson had seen the surveillance footage, and recognized the suspect who was walking down the street as he was patrolling in the area near Ecorse Road and East Michigan Avenue. Jackson, who is 50 years old, was arrested without incident according to a news report at AnnArbor.com.
Jackson is currently on parole for a Wayne County bank robbery; in the course of the arrest, a portion of the money which was stolen from the bank was recovered.
Michigan unarmed robbery attorneys know that while unarmed robbery is not typically as serious as offense as armed robbery, individuals who are convicted may still face up to 15 years in prison for this felony charge if it can be proven that force, fear, or violence was used in the commission of the crime. Additionally, prosecutors and police will look for ways to “trump up” the charge against you, resulting in harsher penalties.
If you have been arrested for unarmed robbery, burglary, or theft of any type it is important that you consult with a capable Michigan criminal defense lawyer right away. A skilled attorney can often keep the client out of jail, and protect you from other serious criminal penalties which can negatively impact your reputation, future, and career.