Veteran Police Officer Accused of Robbing
Bank
By Gerri L. Elder
When robbing a bank, it's best not to be recognized. Police Sergeant Michael Edward Tindall
apparently missed the memo.
The Houston Chronicle reported Tindall is accused of robbing
a bank in Montgomery County, Texas. Tindall is a 23-year veteran police sergeant in Conroe, Texas who also
worked as a security guard at the bank he allegedly robbed.
Tindall was, of course, recognized during the $28,000
robbery and was arrested by the FBI after a 7-month investigation. He has been released on $100,000 bond
with special conditions. He will be
required to wear an ankle monitoring device, surrender all weapons and attend
mental health counseling. Tindall
reportedly says he owns "seven or eight" guns.
He is also restricted from communicating with any witnesses
in the case and is not permitted to seek employment. A curfew will also be imposed at a later
time. His father and stepmother
reportedly put up a $5,000 deposit to secure the bond.
Authorities say Tindall allegedly stole more than $28,000 from the
First Bank of Conroe on August 11, 2008. He has been charged with one count of bank robbery. The FBI says he was not on-duty at the bank
when the robbery occurred.
Tindall's co-workers at the bank and the Conroe Police
Department recognized him on surveillance tapes of the robbery. He is reportedly shown on the tape wearing
gloves, a helmet with a visor, dark sunglasses, a dark colored shirt or jacket,
jeans and athletic shoes.
During the robbery, Tindall allegedly entered the bank and
jumped over the counter into the tellers’ area. He then reportedly demanded money from the bottom drawers be placed into
a bag for him. After getting the money,
Tindall is said to have jumped back over the counter and exited the bank.
On August 12, the day after the robbery, Lee Warren, the
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Bank of Conroe
contacted the FBI. Warren told Special
Agent Soo Barrow he had reason to believe that Tindall had been the bank robber
because a teller recognized his voice and the robber's physical similarities to
Tindall.
Two hours after the robbery, Tindall reportedly deposited
$5,000 into his bank account. Later, he
deposited $10,000 more.
Criminal
defense attorney Robert Scardino represents Tindall. After the bond hearing, Scardino told the
press that the case against Tindall was weak because there is no physical evidence
linking his client to the bank robbery. Tindall, his family and prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's office did
not make any public comments after the hearing.
Tindall has been suspended from the Conroe Police Department
without pay. If convicted of the bank
robbery, he could face a fine of up to $250,000 and up to 20 years in prison. He will not appear in court again unless or
until a grand jury indicts him.