Police arrest Flagstar Bank robbery suspect

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — The man who police believe to be responsible for a robbery at a Grosse Pointe Woods bank earlier this month has been taken into custody.

Eric Anthony, 57, of Detroit, was arrested for the crime and arraigned in federal court Aug. 9 for bank robbery, FBI Special Agent Mara Schneider said by email.

Police said Anthony robbed the Flagstar Bank at 19733 Mack Ave. in Grosse Pointe Woods at around 9:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5 — shortly after the branch opened for business.

Anthony is said to have entered the bank and demanded that a teller give him all of the money in the cash drawer. The teller complied, after which Anthony allegedly exited the bank and got into a silver vehicle — possibly a Ford Eco Sport — that was last seen heading west on Allard Avenue.

Anthony was arrested after clear surveillance images from inside and outside the bank were shared by media outlets and online.

According to an affidavit in the case, Anthony stole approximately $1,000 from the bank. He was wearing a surgical mask over his face, but the teller Anthony approached couldn’t hear or understand what he was saying, so Anthony pulled down his mask to ask that she put all of the cash in the drawer inside the brown paper bag he had slid onto the counter toward her.

Anthony, who is said to have a prior conviction on his record for bank robbery, was identified through law enforcement and other databases and was arrested Aug. 7. After obtaining a warrant, law enforcement officials used pings from Anthony’s cellphone to determine his location.

In the affidavit, Anthony reportedly told law enforcement officers, “My mom told me to just turn myself in, as she did not want me to get shot by police.”

Anthony’s court-appointed attorney could not be reached for comment before press time.

The Woods Public Safety Department turned over the investigation to the FBI shortly after the robbery took place.