Kidnapping and Bank Robbery, Like a Hollywood Movie

On a Friday night, Yosef Tadele, Yohannes T. Surafel and a yet to be identified man, went to the Clinton, MD, home of an assistant branch manager for Suntrust Bank. They held her, her husband, and their two young children hostage. On Saturday morning, the family and Surafel were in the family's car driving to the bank where they expected her to remove cash from the vault.

James Spruill, the husband, was driving the car on Saturday. He saw a Maryland State Trooper in his rear view mirror. Spruill began to swerve in and out of traffic and was pulled over. He gave his bank card to the trooper when asked for his licence. This was to draw attention that there was a problem. Spruill then took advantage of the distraction and jumped in the back seat, pinning Surafel's hands and telling the trooper there was a gun. Surafel was arrested. Reportedly, Tadele and the third man were following the Spruill family car and drove past during the traffic stop. While in jail, Surafel attempted to hang himself.

Tadele was subsequently arrested. The police are following leads to find the third perpetrator.

While this may sound like a variation on the Harrison Ford move, Firewall, it isn't unique. Last September a PNC bank manager and her two young children were abducted and forced to withdraw $169,000 from her bank. Four were arrested in that case.

This is a good time for Security Officers to review procedures with branch staff and all officers. Following different routes to and from work, having duress codes and knowing that the money is worth less than a life are details the bank should discuss.