Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 9

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12. 1997DETROIT FREE PRESS 9A iriirtifnfitf Tra-'fri 1, iifflwSiOTiTri wIti'Bil nvenience hard to reconcile St i Gunmaris mayhem hard for hank to guard against Osnk robberies Bank robberies in Detroit and Michigan increased last year. It is unknown whether the increase reflected a national trend as no statistics for other states were available for 1 996. However, U.S. bank robberies declined about 4 percent in 1995 over 1994.

Bank robberies In Michigan and Detroit In 1998 and 1995 Barbara said bankers walk a fine line between accessibility and robberies. Like the Comerica branch, many banks rely on thick glass and security cameras. Installing stricter security measures such as metal detectors would inconvenience customers. Imagine the line on payday as customers with keys, change and other metal wait in line to cash their checks, said Don Heikkinen, senior vice president and staff counsel for the Michigan Bankers Association. "Emergency situations are addressed in branch employee training.

However, despite the various security measures we take, little can prepare someone for this kind of senseless, tragic act," said Bob Doetsch, a Comerica spokesman. Gary Diaz, a Detroit police narcotics officer, lost his brother, James Isom, in the shooting, and he wonders why the bullet-resistant glass that protects tellers and bank cash can't be used to protect other employees. "That's like leaving them out to the wolves," he said. A traditional security measure is the silent alarm, which police said a Comerica employee pushed Tuesday. When cash is demanded, some tellers toss in a dye pack that explodes and stains the robber.

Tracking devices also can be included. Police and emergency vehicles surround the Comerica branch Tuesday in northeast Detroit Some police have criticized banks for being so quick to hand over cash. Most bank heists nationally were committed by thieves who just passed notes demanding money, according to 1995 figures, the latest available. But Heikkinen and Barbara said banks stress safety first FBI and local police solve about 70 percent to 80 percent of bank robberies, they said, and if robbers are convicted, they can be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison for an unarmed bank robbery. A federal death sentence could be requested if someone dies in a heist Potential penalties did not stop many from trying last year.

The FBI recorded 355 bank robberies in Michigan, up from the previous record of 309 in 1992. The 1996 total jumped 55 percent from 1995. In Detroit, bank robberies more than doubled from 92 in 1995 to 191 last year. Michigan seems to be bucking a national trend of declining bank robberies, according to 1995 figures. The number dipped almost 4 percent nationally that year.

The FBI recorded violence in about 5 percent of the 1995 bank' robberies, burglaries and larcenies, with only 16 deaths less than 1 percent. Thirteen thieves died, plus A Detroit police officer wipes his face 1 -m-. BY TIM DORAN Free Press Staff Writer As long as banks are open to the public, it will be hard to stop a gunman like Allen Griffin Jr. from walking in and blasting away, bank and security of ficials said Tuesday. "There is no foolproof way to protect from a crazy gunman walking into a bank like that," said Sonia Barbara, spokeswoman for the American Bankers Association.

Barbara and other fina icial and security experts 'said banks continue to look for ways to maintain security. The Comerica branch at 12300 Morang had a guard Tuesday when Griffin shot four people before Detroit police fatally shot him. Griffin had wounded another man about Vh blocks from the bank. Comerica spokeswoman Kathy Pitton wouldn't say whether the guard was armed or discuss security measures. The branch was robbed five times between May and July and has bullet-resistant glass at teller windows.

Violence during a bank robbery is rare, even as bank robberies in Michigan last year increased to record levels. I Griffin's intent was unclear. One witness heard him announce a holdup and mention money, but he didn't take any cash. Troubled kills 3 in Shootings, from Page 1A worked in law enforcement foi; 31 years. "This is unprecedented in terms of the kind of violence." i iuiii risuci, scinui viic picaiucui of Comerica branch system, who was visibly shaken by die tragedy, said, "I've been in this business more than 25 years.

I've nevef seen anything like this." The violent drama began about 10 a.m., when Eric Skalnek, 23, left his home on Duchess and headed toward Denby High School's outdoor track. It was his first day of physical training to prepare for the admissions testing at the Detroit Police Academy, his friends say. Skalnek received an academy letter Monday saying he could take a written exam later this month. Skalnek was thinking about his hopes for a new career as he prepared for his mid-morning jog, friends say. But between Skalnek and his workout just 15 feet from the entrance to the track stood the gunman, wearing a camouflage jacket, baseball cap, jeans and tennis shoes.

In his left hand, he held a walking cane. In his right hand, he held a 12-gauge pump shotgun. He raised the gun, pulled the trigger and shot away part of Skal-nek'sface. The gunman left Skalnek where he fell. Within minutes, police and EMS workers found him.

Detroit paramedic Nicholas Futris said Skalnek lost a third of his face but remained conscious during the five-minute ride to St. John Hospital. He was in serious condition Tuesday afternoon. "He was really excited about being a cop," said Skalnek's roommate Charles Hudgens, 22. "He didn't even have a chance.

A random shooting, just like that" Into the bank Griffin, meanwhile, had fled from the Denby track by stealing a gray Volvo, parked in a nearby driveway with the keys in the ignition. But a block and a half, down Duchess, he stopped at Comerica on Morang. he burst into the bank, Griffin began yelling incoherently. The employees and customers could hardly understand him. Some thought he was announcing a holdup.

Others heard him mention money, but he never clearly demanded cash. The bank employees understood about robberies. The Morang-Duch-ess branch had been robbed five times from May to July 1996, said Kathy Pitton of Comerica. A suspect in those robberies was apprehended. Comerica has spent more than $2.5 million on increased security at area bank branches in the past two years, said Fisher, the vice president Employees are given training about how to respond in a robbery.

"In this instance, we were dealing with a deranged gunman. I'm not sufe there was anything anyone 400-300- 200-100- -228 S2 1995 1996 1995 1996 Note This year In Detroit, there were 41 bank robberies in January and February, keeping pace with last year's rate. Sources: FBI Detroit and Washington. Detroit Free Press Moritz attributed some of the rise in Michigan robberies to serial robbers with a common motive: money for drugs. Staff writers Matt Helms and Geor-gea Kovanis contributed to this report.

GABRIEL B. TAITDetroit Free Press Detroit's northeast side Tuesday. stunned by the rapid-fire explosions, i It sounded like more than 100 rounds to several witnesses. Later, McKin- non said that five bullets struck Griffin. When the deafening noise ended, Griffin lay dead in the alley about 20 yards from his final victim.

Hundreds of neighbors, police and 1 reporters swarmed around the bank, trying to get a glimpse of the tragedy and understand what had happened. McKinnon said, There's no ques-. tion our officers did the best job possible under the circumstances." He said the shooting will be investigated, as are all shootings involving police officers. Questions remain But the mystery remains: Why did Griffin explode so violently? Why did he rave incoherently as he mercilessly shot some people and left others uninjured? On Tuesday afternoon, 17 relatives crowded into the living room of the bungalow where Griffin lived on Duchess. "I feel too much remorse to even explain said his uncle, Charles Griffin, 37.

"What more can I say? A million words couldn't explain it" Said Bonita Griffin, 31, an aunt: "My nephew broke one of God's commandments, Thou shalt not For those families, I hurt for. them because of the actions lie did. They didn't ask to die. He didn't give life and he didn't have the right to take it away." Staff writers David Ashenfelter, Ariana Cha, Melanie Eversley, Daniel Fricker, Matt Helms, Hugh McDiarmid Darci McConnell, David Migoya, Wendy Wendland and Marty Westman contributed to this report. V'.

I rfc i JULIAN H. GONZALEZDetroit Free Press ardin, 29, of Garden City was killed outside a Dearborn bank in November. Houghton police shot and killed a would-be bank robber holding a hostage after a 16-hour standoff in January 1996. Police shot and killed a bank robber in Sumpter Township in November 1994 after he held a woman and her baby hostage. Robbers shot and killed a customer during a Detroit bank robbery in July 1993.

FBI Detroit spokeswoman Dawn Griffin Jr. outside a Comerica branch on MARY SCHROEDERDetroit Free Press bank on Morang in Detroit after gunman opened fire. along one side of the bank. Police waited with their guns leveled at Griffin, hoping for an opportunity to free Hays. But within seconds, Griffin's shotgun erupted again.

First he fired at police, then he shot Hays. The elderly man fell dead. In response, eight police officers began firing. The barrage lasted less than a minute, but witnesses in buildings around the bank said they were i X' two bank employees and one law enforcement of ficer. Tuesday's rampage in Detroit was the second deadly shootout at a U.S.

bank in two weeks. On Feb. 28, a holdup at a Los Angeles branch of Bank of America became a televised gunbattk. Sixteen police officers and civilians were injured before the robbers were killed. Money clearly was the motive in Los Angeles.

Since 1993, four people have died in Michigan bank heists: Armored van guard Matthew Gir- while standing near the body of Allen a However, in the final moments of the drama, one more person blundered across Griffin's path. He was Stanley Hays of Detroit 77, who was getting out of his van in front of the bank. Officers shouted at Hays to get away, but Hays apparently didn't understand the danger. He moved toward the bank, where Griffin grabbed him, perhaps to take him as a hostage. Pointing his gun at Hays, Griffin jerked him toward an alley that runs gunman siege might end at any moment Charlene McDonald was lying on the floor with her arms draped around a 10-year-old daughter, La-Shawnda, and a 6-year-old son, Fa-Shawn.

McDonald was thinking she should run for the bank's front doors with her children even if it meant the gunman might fire at her. She heard a loud "click, click" from Griffin's gun. The 34-year-old Hamtramck woman watched Griffin point his gun at a man in a shirt and tie who lay curled in a fetal position just inches away. He was James Isom, 25, of Warren, a retail services representative at the branch. He had worked for Comerica for four years.

McDonald saw Griffin pull the trigger, but the shotgun apparently malfunctioned. Then, after another "click, click," McDonald watched as Griffin shot Isom in the head, killing him. Terrified people Again, Griffin began yelling, demanding that people lie down, even though they already were on the floor. Soon he began killing again. McDonald was terrified.

Witnesses say Griffin killed another man in a small office within the bank. He was Stanley Pijanowski III, 52, of Bloomfield Township, who was an assistant vice president and managed the branch. He had worked at Comerica for 29 years. Then, witnesses say, Griffin injured a woman. Lisa Griffin, 38, who apparently was no relation to the gunman, was lying facedown on the floor with her arms near her face.

She was an 11-year Comerica employee who lives in Warren. Suddenly, she felt a blast tear at her left hand and jaw. She was listed in temporary serious condition at St'John Hospital on Tuesday night. When her husband, James Griffin, visited her, he said, "You were lucky he didn't kill you." Still lying on the floor of the bank, Charlene McDonald was thinking the same thing. As the shotgun rang out again and again, she decided it was time to save her children.

McDonald grabbed the hands of LaShawnda and FaShawn and bolted for the door. "I told them, 'Just stay behind me and McDonald said, wringing her hands as she recalled the scene. "I just knew we were going to be shot, but I figured I could save the children. I said, 'God, please let this door be And I tried it and it was!" The kids were crying and hollering, "Don't leave me!" Frantic, the trio sprinted through the bank parking lot and across a busy intersection until they found their way down Duchess Street less than a block from the bank. Griffin barely reacted to McDonald's escape with her children.

About that time, he was trying to escape from the bank himself. "A true hero was the assistant manager, Barbara," McKinnon said. "She had the presence of mind to hit the bank's silent alarm, which called police to the scene. Officers were I Relatives of Patty DeArmit, 26, of Hamtramck comfort each other outside the they found out she was safe Tuesday. She's an employee of the branch where a very close by." The final shots Outside the bank, Griffin found himself facing a small crowd of officers.

He was still clutching, his shotgun and wearing a crazed expression, oddly like a twisted sijiile, thought Charles Easterly, 32, of Detroit who was driving past the bank at the time. Police officers moved toward the gunman to end the killing spree. could do," Fisher said. As Griffin waved his shotgun and his cane, employees and customers dove for the floor, fearing their lives 1 i I.