CHICAGO — An Uptown man who unsuccessfully tried to rob a bank on the Magnificent Mile walked across the street and minutes later unsuccessfully tried to rob another bank, prosecutors say.
Herman Johnson, 50, allegedly walked into Citibank, 539 North Michigan, on Oct. 4 around 4:40 p.m. and handed the teller a note.
“This is a bank robbery! I want the money from the bank,” the note said. “Don’t be a hero! No one will get hurt!!!”
As intimidating as that note may seem, the teller gave it back to Johnson, who walked out with no money, according to a Chicago police report.
About 15 minutes later, Johnson allegedly attempted the same thing at Bank of America, 500 North Michigan. He handed over the same note and left again without receiving cash, the report said.
Police arrested Johnson a short time later in the 600 block of Northern Michigan.
Prosecutors charged him with two counts of attempted robbery, but they did not ask a judge to keep him in custody. Records show Johnson failed to show up for his first court appearance on Oct. 10. Two days later he was arrested for refusing to appear. He remains in the county jail.
CWBChicago was founded in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had become discouraged by the inaccurate information presented during local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has since expanded to Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown and other North Side areas. But our mission remains unchanged: to provide original public safety reporting with better context and more detail than mainstream media. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com
