PALM BAY – A 62-year-old off-duty security guard is being credited with thwarting an attempted bank robbery in Palm Bay this afternoon.
The attempted robbery occurred just before 2 p.m. at the Space Coast Credit Union at 150 Malabar Rd., not far from the Palm Bay Police Department headquarters.
“The robber was apprehended by a customer with a concealed weapons permit,” said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.
The suspect, Floyd Francis, 23, was taken into custody after the off-duty security guard, identified as Rueben Torres, stepped out of the branch office and walked to the parking lot.
“I went to the car and got my weapon,” said Torres, who stopped off at the bank before heading to work. Torres then pulled his 9mm on the robber before he left the branch building.
“I guess it’s the New Yorker in me,” Torres said about his decision to get involved.
The suspect appeared apologetic before officers arrived and placed him in handcuffs, Rueben said.
He was taken to police headquarters for further questioning, officials said.
Bank staffers, including the tellers, gave Torres several hugs.
“Mr. Torres’ actions, while not encouraged, are appreciated and were very courageous,” Lt. Mark Renkens said in a statement. “He took action to stop a crime in progress and fortunately made a positive difference in the outcome.”
A positive outcome and a courageous man, well done. However, there a few things I don’t understand. You have a CC permit and you have to retrieve your gun from your car, why? Maybe that’s the New Yorker in him, walking around defenseless?
Is some states the signs carry the weight of the law. Not so in some states. Here in VA regardless of signs you can carry in a bank. If discovered that you’re carrying and you’re asked to leave you had better leave. After that then you are in fact breaking the law by trespassing (misdemeanor).
although I wont admit to anyone when and where I carry or dont carry, thats the New Yorker in me, I do have a few friends that carry but when going in to places such as a Bank or airport they leave their weapon in there car.
Banks are not on the statutory list of prohibited places in Ohio.
Some post (which makes it a misdemeanor to enter armed) and some do not. 5/3 bank (which posts its Ohio branches but not its Kentucky branches) lost ALL of its business with me (checking, savings, investments portfolio) to Chase (which does not post ANY of its offices).
I carry every single time I got to my bank to do business. I also will do whatever I can to financially hurt any business that posts against lawful concealed carry.
One of my acquaintances owns the Chrysler/Dodge dealer in town. He, like most other dealers in Ohio, post no guns signs on their door. I wrote a letter to him explaining exactly why I would not spend a dime there even though I own two Chrysler products.
Great story! I love these stories. I, too, carry in any bank despite the signs. Don’t ask, don’t tell. What other place to you go to in day-to-day errands, that you’d be more likely to need a gun in?
It’s a common misconception, but there is no prohibition against carrying concealed in a bank here in FL. The law goes so far as to say that you may need a fire arm, if withdrawing large amounts of cash or visiting ATMs after hours.
If I don’t perceive that either I or one of mine is being threatened, I will not act. I carry a handgun and the will to use it for me and mine. No other reason.
TITUSVILLE, Fla. – An armed robbery at a Titusville bank Friday night was thwarted by a customer, police said.
It was the second incident in as many days in the area that a Good Samaritan had taken down a bank robber.
“I should have blown him away,” said David, who asked not to have his last name released. I don’t suggest saying this to anyone, much less the media.
He was a customer at Riverside Bank when a man held up the place with a knife.
When the robber ran out, David said he chased him through the mud in his socks and caught him.
“I split him like a piñata,” David said. “There were $20 (bills) all over the place.”
David had his .357-caliber Magnum on him. He said his concealed weapons permit and right to carry a gun are very important to him.
“Everybody get a gun,” David said.
Another concealed weapons permit holder, Ruben Torres, foiled a bank robber in Palm Bay 24 hours earlier. In that case, the guy gave up easily. This was different, David said.
“He was trying to use his knife,” he said. “I pistol-whipped him and split his head open and got blood all over me.”
Police identified the suspect as 55-year-old Michael Peterson, of Titusville.
He was put under observation at a nearby hospital before being taken to jail.
A positive outcome but this guy sounds like a bit of a wingnut talking about splitting open people like pinatas and I definitely wouldn’t recommend pistol whipping knife wielding bank robbers.
There is a certain exhilaration that can follow triumph in an armed conflict, whether it’s dropping a threat in a gunfight or beating a bad guy into submission. It is best if one does not allow that feeling to overcome their ability to control the language they use to describe the incident to the authorities or to the press.
I know of at least one bank in Fl. that has small signs near the front door, no carrying. Wachovia.
In Fl. are you allowed to CCW in a Hotel if the hotel does not prohibit such on their web site, nor with any signage to that effect anywhere on their property ?
