PRESS RELEASE

12/16/03

On December 16, 2003, at approximately 3:30 PM, the Elyria Police Department responded to the report of a robbery at the First Merit Bank located at 565 S. Abbe Rd, Elyria. The responding officers arrived after the suspects had fled and secured the bank as a crime scene.

It was learned that a teller was approached by two subjects dressed in dark clothing with hoods shielding their faces. The suspects indicated they were armed with a fire arm and demanded money. The suspects fled the area with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspects were seen leaving the area in a blue late model Oldsmobile with a thirty day temporary license tag. Area police departments were given a description of the suspects and their vehicle and asked for their assistance in looking for them.

The Rocky River Police Department notified the Elyria Police Department they had observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle traveling east on State Route 2 and had that vehicle stopped near W.117th St and Lorain Rd in Cleveland. Officers of the Elyria Police Department responded. Two subjects were taken into custody, an undisclosed amount of money was recovered and a fire arm was located inside the car.

The following suspects were taken into custody:

1) Thomas L. Calloway, age 38, no permanent address, of Cleveland OH.

2) Martin Goins, Age 29, no permanent address, of Cleveland OH.

Calloway was charged with Aggravated Robbery, a Felony of the First Degree, Possession of Criminal Tools, a Felony of the Fifth Degree, Tampering with Evidence, a Felony of the Third Degree.

Goins was charged with Aggravated Robbery, a Felony of the First Degree, Possession of Criminal Tools, a Felony of the Fifth Degree.

Both men are being held at the Elyria City Jail pending arraignment in the Elyria Municipal Court.

Photos of the suspects are available at the Elyria Police Department Records Room.

Lt Andrew Eichenlaub

Elyria Police Department