Toms River Man Who Banged On Glass Doors With Gun At Brick Bank Convicted Of Robbery

BRICK, NJ — On Oct. 6, 2015, Michael D. Gibson showed up at the TD Bank in Brick, walked into the vestibule at 5:12 p.m. brandishing a gun and banged on the glass door, trying to get in. And when he couldn't, he ran.

This week, the Toms River man told an Ocean County jury that when he fled the bank, it was because he changed his mind.

On Wednesday, that jury found Gibson, 23, guilty of first-degree robbery and third-degree possession of an imitation firearm, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

At trial, Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Tito presented the case, with witnesses testifying that Gibson entered the TD Bank vestibule, at 2292 Hooper Ave., displaying a gun and found the inner doors to the bank were locked. Gibson banged on the glass door with the gun, but was unable to get in. Bank employees and customers who were still inside the bank at the time of the robbery hid behind the teller desk until Gibson left, and then called the police, according to the prosecutor's office.

Gibson then ran away and was seen leaving in a blue Toyota, the prosecutor's office said. A concerned citizen observed Gibson inside the vestibule and followed him as he fled the parking lot, ultimately following the Toyota to Beaverson Boulevard, where Brick Township Police Officers John Ziobro, Brian Farnkopf and Brick Detective Daniel Waleski conducted a motor vehicle stop. Gibson was arrested, and a black air soft handgun was recovered from inside his vehicle, the prosecutor's office said. Detective Thomas Cooney then conducted an interview during which the defendant admitted to brandishing the handgun in the vestibule.

At trial, two TD Bank employees, a concerned citizen, Ziobro, Farnkopf, Waleski and Cooney testified, the prosecutor's office said.

Gibson claimed renunciation, saying he had abandoned his purpose to rob the bank, the prosecutor's office said.

But that defense was rejected by the jury, the prosecutor's office said.

Gibson has been in jail since he was arrested, and will remain in the Ocean County Jail without bail pending sentencing. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November, the prosecutor's office said.

The state’s case was presented by Tito, who was assisted by Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Sheehan. Detective Michael Lepore from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office assisted in the investigation and preparation of the case for trial, the prosecutor's office said.

Michael D. Gibson via Ocean County Corrections Department