LIMA — A prosecutor told a jury Monday that 69-year-old Arthur Banks was the man who robbed Planet Health on Dec. 2.
Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Ken Sturgill pointed at Banks several times while naming him and explaining how he robbed the store.
Banks put a ski mask on and had his hand inside his coat pocket pointing, he said.
“He said, ‘I have a gun. I want your money,’” Sturgill said.
Banks is charged with robbery and three counts of kidnapping with repeat violent offender specifications. His trial began Monday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.
Sturgill said Banks ordered the three employees behind the counter. He then told one of the store owners to give him the money while ordering the two others to lie on the ground and stay there.
“As the owner handed him money he continues to make threats,” Sturgill said.
But Banks’ attorney, Zach Maisch, said the whole incident was caught on surveillance video and jurors should take a close look at that and decide if it were his client.
Sturgill said each employee of the store that day will explain what happened in each part of the video.
“You will get to see everything that happened, Sturgill said.
A description of Banks was provided to police officers who are quick to respond. The officers caught Banks a short time later wearing the same clothes with money in his pocket, Sturgill said.
But Maisch told the jury to watch a two-hour police interrogation a detective conducted in two interviews with Banks.
“Not once did he admit to this. He continued to tell the detective it wasn’t him,” Maisch said. “Police still believed Banks was responsible for the crime and locked in on him without looking for anyone else.
“Decide for yourself whether you think it was Mr. Banks.”
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