Police: Jefferson County man robs bank, ‘I have guns on standby’

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Big Run man is facing felony charges after police said that he robbed a bank in Jefferson County.

Justin Hopkins, 36, was charged after police were called on Oct. 16 to a Marion Center Bank on reports that they had just been robbed. The caller explained that a white man had come into the bank with bandana covering his face and allegedly passed a note demanding money, according to the criminal complaint.

The bank teller said that they handed over the money, the man left the bank and got on a bicycle before leaving the scene. When police arrived they reviewed video footage that showed the man entering the bank, where he could be seen handing the note to the teller. He then allegedly took a bag of money from the teller and left on a bike.

When police interviewed the teller, she claimed that when the man came in, he demanded money from them via a note. She said that right before he left, the silent alarm was triggered and the doors were locked after he left. In total, the teller told police that the man had stolen a total of $840, according to the complaint.

Later that same day, Hopkins was taken into custody after he was seen wearing the same clothes that were worn during the robbery. When searched, police found a total of $840 on Hopkins.

In an interview with police, Hopkins allegedly admitted to robbing the bank, saying that he walked in and told them “Give me the money, I got guns on standby.” He told police that he had been thinking about robbing the bank for two weeks before doing so, according to the complaint.

Hopkins then went on to tell police what the letter that he handed over to the teller said.

“I need the money now, I have guns on standby please give me the money or someone gets hurt,” the letter allegedly read.

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He told police that if the robbery went well, he would have done it to a First Commonwealth Bank in Punxsutawney, according to the complaint.

Hopkins is now facing a felony charge of robbery – demand money from a financial institution, robbery – threat, theft by unlawful taking of movable property and terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another.

He is in the Jefferson County Prison after being unable to post 10% of his $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10/29.

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