A 45-year-old man arrested shortly after a Hilltop bank was robbed Monday afternoon has been charged in the heist.
Pierce County prosecutors charged James K. Topping with first-degree robbery Tuesday. He’s being held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Charging documents provide the following information:
Topping entered the Key Bank branch at 1120 S. 11th St. and contacted a teller around 2 p.m. Tuesday. He said he needed money and provided the teller with an account number.
The teller asked for ID. The man pulled out several cards. The teller pulled the alarm as she continued to talk to the man.
At some point, Topping said, “Don’t do this to me. I need money … If I don’t leave with money, they’ll kill me.”
The teller warned the man he was about to commit a federal offense. Topping repeatedly apologized and, at one point, it appeared he began to cry. He then began to snicker.
“Are you sure that you want to do this?” the teller asked before handing over the money. “It will go on your record.”
Topping took the money and left. Tacoma police officers stopped him within minutes and arrested him.
Investigators recovered the cash that was taken from the bank.
This article doesn’t mention if the perp implied that he was armed, or that he threatened to harm the teller in any way.
At any rate…the teller did a good job in delaying the perp long enough to allow police to arrive at the scene.
Good arrest, officers.
I wonder if this individual was suffering a psychotic episode? Or if he was strung out. His behavior would seem to indicate one or the other.
interWOLFone: The charging documents do not say whether he implied a weapon or whether he threatened the teller. The teller did tell offices she was fearful he would use force if she didn’t comply.