July 17, 2004
Mansfield News Journal

Ashland Road bank robbed

MANSFIELD -- Law-enforcement agencies were searching Friday evening for a man who robbed the First Merit Bank branch on Ashland Road of an undisclosed amount of cash.

Richland County Sheriff's Sgt. Michael T. Viars said the suspect, who was white, believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, about 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds, handed a note to the teller at about 5:44 p.m.

Viars said the robber got away with an amount of cash that "wasn't real substantial. It was basically money from teller drawers."

The robber did not verbally threaten anyone, but one teller reportedly saw a small handgun, Viars said.

"It was relatively quick -- no yelling and screaming and ordering anybody around. He was pretty passive, you might say," the sergeant said.

Several bank employees were in the branch, but no customers were inside. A person was coming through the drive-through during the robbery, Viars said.

The suspect reportedly left alone, headed west in what witnesses believed to be a mid-sized, light-colored gold vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Lumina or Lumina-style body.

The suspect had dark hair and one or two days' growth of beard. He wore sunglasses that were either mirrored or dark and reflective, a grey shirt with a design on it, denim shorts, white athletic shoes, and a cream colored ballcap with a darker bill with a design on the front.

He was last seen in the parking area near the bank.

Descriptions were given to nearby law-enforcement agencies, but the suspect was still being sought late Friday night.

The sheriff's department planned to work to enhance a videotape of the suspect Monday, to get a clearer image.

The FBI was contacted and is expected to be involved in the investigation.

Commentary:
Ohio has one of the highest bank robbery rates in the nation. The Ohio Banker's League is distributing instructions on how banks can ban CHL-holders. But clearly bank robbers could not care less about FirstMerit's discriminatory signs.

FirstMerit has been serving Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania for over 155 years. Pennsylvania has had a concealed carry law since the late 80's, and In the time they have done business in that state, FirstMerit had never been posted with discriminatory signs!! But afte rbeing confronted with their hypocracy in Ohio, First Merit has no begun discriminating against concealed handgun licenseholders in Pennsylvania as well.br>

Customer Contact Center - 1-888-554-4362
In the Akron area, please call 330-996-6025.
Email: customerservice@firstmerit.com.
(If you would like to hear back from a FirstMerit customer representative, please indicate that in your message.)

Related Stories:
Medina victim sues man who robbed her at First Merit ATM

FIVE: FirstMerit victim zone robbed again

Owners of Ohio pizza-deliveries, which are have posted discriminatory signs banning concealed handgun license-holders, need to read about how well-adjusted most of their peers in Indiana are when it comes to self-defense.

July 16, 2004
Indianapolis Star

Chains won't let workers carry guns, but local eateries say employees need protection from robbery hazards.

Personal protection has become just as much a part of the pizza delivery business as pepperoni and tomato sauce.

But even in a field that is among the nation's most dangerous, workers, managers and safety experts remain divided on whether guns provide additional protection against robberies and other forms of violence.

Many national chains bar drivers from carrying weapons, saying firearms are too risky. Yet most local restaurants contacted by The Indianapolis Star will not stop a worker from taking a gun along if the employee can do so legally.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

July 18, 2004
Toledo Blade

Federal concealed-carry exemption affects off-duty, retired police

Despite passage of federal legislation giving off-duty and retired police officers the right to carry concealed weapons in any state, uncertainty remains about how the law affects some Ohio law enforcement agencies - including Toledo police.
The issue of what effect, if any, Ohio's concealed-carry law has on officers who carry weapons off duty has continued to be a topic of discussion among law enforcement personnel statewide.

Before the federal bill's approval by Congress on July 7, groups such as the Fraternal Order of Police and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police rendered differing opinions on the state law. The Ohio Attorney General's Office is working on an opinion, and the city of Toledo's law department gave an opinion when asked by Police Chief Mike Navarre.

The federal legislation - which is expected to be signed into law by President Bush on Thursday - would override some states' prohibitions on carrying concealed firearms. Some states do not recognize other states' concealed weapons permits.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.