Minneapolis Man Indicted for Robbing Bloomington, St. Louis Park Banks

February 18, 2010 - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 54-year-old Minneapolis man for allegedly robbing TCF banks in Bloomington and St. Louis Park. In the indictment, which was filed with the U.S. District Court earlier today, Ananias Taylor, Jr., was charged with two counts of bank robbery. The indictment alleges Taylor took $2,311 from the Bloomington bank on December 8, 2009, and $2,750 from the St. Louis Park bank on January 21, 2010.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit filed relative to the St. Louis Park crime, the bank was robbed at 12:30 p.m. on January 21 by a lone man, later identified as Taylor. The man allegedly entered the bank, approached a teller, and said, “What would you guys do when you get robbed?” Before the teller could respond, the man purportedly extended a white plastic bag along with orders to fill it with “$50s, $20s, $10s, and no dye pack.” He also allegedly instructed another teller to assist. The tellers complied by filling the bag with cash and two tracking devices.

Meanwhile, one of three customers attempted to leave the bank, purportedly prompting the robber to grab the customer’s arm and say, “You are not going anywhere.” The customer, however, pulled free, ran to the adjacent Cub Foods store, and reported the robbery.

According to the affidavit, the robber then pulled the money bag away from the teller, causing it to rip open. As a result, some of the money as well as one of the tracking devices fell to the floor as the robber rushed from the premises.

Police were able to trace the second tracking device, however, to a St. Louis Park residence, approximately three blocks from the bank. With the aid of a police dog, officers searched the garage at the residence, and there they reportedly found Taylor and a handgun. Outside, in the snow near the garage, they also allegedly recovered a bag containing cash and the second tracking device. Taylor was immediately arrested and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment to injuries he sustained during his dog-assisted apprehension.

If convicted, Taylor faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years on each bank robbery count. All sentences are determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Louis Park Police Department, the FBI, and the Bloomington Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen.