Man arrested for robbing credit union in July
A Commerce Township man has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery of a Rochester credit union in July, the Rochester Police Department said. The suspect, Jeffrey Ethan Able, 20, of Commerce Township, was arrested on the morning of Tuesday, August 14, near Highland Road (M-59) and Milford Road by the Oakland County Fugitive Apprehension Team. Able faces charges of bank robbery in Rochester and another charge of bank robbery in Lathrup Village. Rochester Police said Able is responsible for the July 23 robbery of the Alliance Catholic Credit Union, 912 N. Main in Rochester. Rochester Police Chief Steve Schettenhelm said officers responded to a hold-up alarm about 2:20 p.m. on the day of the robbery. Employees at the credit union said the suspect handed a teller a note implying he had a weapon and left with an undisclosed amount of money. Police in Lathrup Village said Able is also suspected of robbing TCF Bank, 17535 Twelve Mile Road, on Wednesday, August 8, in Lathrup Village. The suspect again demanded money and produced a note implying he had a weapon. Investigators received an anonymous tip that identified Able after surveillance photos were released by the Lathrup Village Police Department. Detectives from both departments collaborated to corroborate the tip and link the suspect to the incidents. Police said Able many have been involved in several other violent crimes that are still under investigation. Able was arraigned in 52nd 3rd District Court in Rochester Hills on Wednesday, August 15, and held in Oakland County Jail on $1 million cash bond. He was arraigned the following day in 46th District Court in Southfield and held on $750,000 cash bond. If convicted, Able faces up to life in prison. The Oakland County Sheriff's Rochester Hills Substation Detective Bureau, the FBI, Waterford Township Detective's Bureau, and federal ATF assisted with the investigation.