Police Release, Then Catch Accused Lorain County Bank Robber

GRAFTON, OH — The FBI announced that it has arrested Matthew J. Kroffke, 37, for robbing Chemical Bank in Grafton on Feb. 23. He was arrested near Toledo on Feb. 26 and then transported back to Lorain County. He is now in federal custody in Cleveland.

The robbery took place a little before 11 a.m. on Feb. 23. At that point, law enforcement said they only knew that an unidentified white man came into the bank brandishing a black handgun. The man allegedly shouted for everyone to show him their hands. He then went to the bank manager's office, pointed his gun at her and told her to get out of her office. She followed him into the lobby of the bank.

The man then allegedly told the three tellers at the bank to give him large bills. The suspect paced in front of the counter and counted backwards from 30. As he counted, he reportedly pointed his gun in the faces of the tellers and threatened to shoot them. The tellers handed over the cash and no one was hurt.

The man then ran out of the bank and got into a blue Ford SUV and drove off. The suspected SUV was actually stopped by Grafton Police, but officers didn't yet have all the details related to the robbery. The driver of the car was identified s Kroffke, but he was released. That traffic stop was later brought to the attention of the FBI.

Law enforcement were able to locate the 37-year-old three days later near Toledo. Kroffke will make his first appearance in court on Wednesday, in Magistrate Judge Thomas Parker's courtroom.

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