TROY, Ohio—A would-be robber who allegedly called in a bomb threat and a bogus robbery at another location as part of an attempt to divert police was arrested before he could attempt an actual heist.
David Aaron Winter, 32, allegedly called authorities about a fake bomb threat at F&P America and then phoned police about a false robbery at an office of Wright-Patt CU. The phony calls, authorities said, were intended to occupy police so Winter could rob an office of Abbey Credit Union on Wayne Street here.
But before Winter could attempt the crime he was arrested following a traffic stop by a Troy police patrolman and school resource officer Brandon Fellers.
Fellers and a few other officers had been alerting local banks and credit unions to watch for suspicious activity following a bomb threat at the F&P America and a fake robbery call at Wright-Patt Credit Union in case a potential bank robber was trying to lure police away from the area. Fellers said he noticed Winter acting suspiciously, circling the credit union and looking back as he drove around, WHIO reported.
“He was found to have a note in reference to robbing a bank, and two cellphones,” Fellers told the news outlet. “Those numbers matched up to the numbers that were called” at the F&P and Wright-Patt, he said. “He had an airsoft gun that had been modified to look like a real gun, with the orange tip being spray painted.”
Also in Winter’s truck, police found a change of clothing and a child cape tied into a knot that could be used as a facemask.
Winter was booked into the Miami County Jail on suspicion of inducing panic, making false alarms, robbery, operating a vehicle under the influence, possession of dangerous drugs and no operator’s license. He is awaiting arraignment.