Man arrested after giving ID during bank robbery

February 5, 2018

LAKE CITY, Fla. (WCTV) -- The Lake City Police Department has arrested a man who they say robbed a bank after providing his identification to bank personnel.

LCPD says they received a hold-up alarm from Renasant Bank and, as officers were being dispatched to the call, received a 911 call from a bank employee.

Following an investigation, police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Donald Towns. Police say Towns was one of the first customers in the bank that day, and asked to open a bank account.

Police say the manager asked Towns for a photo ID, and he provided a Florida driver's license to be photocopied.

According to LCPD, when the ID was returned to Towns, he handed the manager a note that informed her he had a gun, demanded money and threatened to kill her if law enforcement was called.

LCPD says the manager was led by Towns to the teller window, where employees said they believed he pointed a concealed firearm at them through his pocket. Police reports say Towns was given a bag with approximately $1,200 in cash. He then told employees that he would return and kill them if the police were alerted and left the bank.

Police say the note Towns handed the manager was written on the back of a medical discharge note, which contained Towns' name and other identifying information.

Officers say they found Towns about a quarter-mile from the bank, where he was detained, identified and arrested.

LCPD says no employees were injured during the robbery.

Towns was arrested and transported to the Columbia County Jail. He has been charged with armed robbery and is being held without bond.