Police apprehended a man accused of robbing two banks in downtown Indianapolis to help him pay his electric bill.
Calvin Henderson, 71, is facing two preliminary robbery charges, according to court filings. Both are Level 5 felonies.
The investigation into Henderson began on July 10, when police got a complaint of an active robbery at the BMO Harris Bank at 135 Pennsylvania St. Three days later, investigators were dispatched to investigate another robbery reported at the First Financial Bank on 11 S. Meridian St.
Police interviewed a witness at the BMO Harris Bank after Henderson allegedly entered the bank and approached the teller desk. According to court documents, Henderson originally claimed to have an account with BMO and began filling out a deposit sheet. At that moment, he allegedly passed a letter to the teller saying the following:
$100.00 for four rolls, $50.00 for four rolls, and $20.00 for twenty-two rolls. This is robbery. Don’t distract your customers or other tellers, and it won’t be a problem. “This is a bank robbery.
The woman Henderson reportedly passed the message to told police she complied and gave him $640. Henderson then exited the bank and headed east on Ohio Street, according to the woman.
Three days later, police were called to First Financial Bank regarding a reported robbery. The caller stated that the man, who police have identified as Henderson, was last seen traveling eastbound on Washington Street.
As part of their investigation, detectives interviewed the bank cashier. She claims Henderson handed her a bank slip requesting “Bank Robbery: 4 rolls of hundred dollar bills.”
Fearing for her safety, the teller said to police she gave Henderson an “undetermined amount of money along with bait money from the drawer.”
According to court filings, Henderson was later apprehended at the Transit Center on East Washington Street. A investigator noticed Henderson wearing clothing that looked to fit the description provided by the bank staff.
Following Henderson’s arrest, detectives discovered a blue pen with the word “First” written on it. They discovered that the pen had been removed from within First Financial Bank. Police also discovered a new $50 bill lying next to the suspect.
Police found $1,602 in the front pocket of Henderson’s jacket, according to court filings.
Detectives also examined security footage, which appeared to show Henderson wearing the same outfit inside First Financial Bank as when he was captured.
During an interview with police, Henderson allegedly admitted to the robberies “to get money to pay his bills.” He also stated that he did not use a firearm during the robberies and was driven to do so because he “needed the money to pay an electric bill” that he claimed cost $300.
Henderson was arrested and taken to Marion County Jail. Online court records do not yet show when he is set to appear in Marion Superior Court 20 for his preliminary hearing in the matter.
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