A situation unfolded on New Year's Eve at a US Bank in Turlock after a man threatened to detonate an explosive device during a bank robbery. According to KCRA, authorities responded to the bank on East Olive Avenue around 1:38 p.m. following a call about a robbery in progress. The suspect, later identified as 45-year-old Benjamin Charles Malakismail, had entered the bank carrying a briefcase which he claimed contained a bomb.
Malakismail demanded money from the bank's employees asserting he could trigger the explosive. After departing with an undisclosed sum, the suspect left the briefcase behind at the scene. The area was swiftly evacuated by Turlock police and, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Bomb Squad was called in which determined, after four tense hours, that the briefcase did not contain any explosives.
The incident caused major disruption on the busy holiday, leading to the closure of nearby businesses and a section of the surrounding area as a precaution. As "determined the briefcase did not contain an explosive device," said Turlock Police Sgt. Paul Inderbitzen in a statement obtained by the Turlock Journal.
The break in the case occurred yesterday when Turlock police detectives identified a vehicle matching the description linked to the robbery. They conducted a traffic stop around 2:30 p.m. and took Malakismail into custody. He is facing charges of robbery and making a false report of an explosive device. No other suspects are believed to be involved in the crime.
No injuries were reported in the incident, though the impact on bank employees and patrons is being considered. The Turlock Police Department is continuing its investigation and encourages anyone with further information to come forward. Witnesses can contact Detective Matthew Ulrich at (209) 668-6570, the Turlock Police Department's Tip Line at (209) 668-5550 extension 6780, or email [email protected].
