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Police Report: Bank Robber Arrested

(Lt. William Wilson, Ferndale Police Department, 01/04/2012)

A man has been arrested for the bank robbery that occurred in Ferndale at the Charter One bank on December 6, 2011. John Lee WESTPFAHL (w/m, 44 yrs, former Warren resident) was arrested Monday morning (January 2nd). Westpfahl is suspected of committing the Ferndale bank robbery as well as two bank robberies in Birmingham and another bank robbery in Clinton Township.

Ferndale Police, Birmingham Police, Clinton Township Police, and the FBI have been working together to solve these crimes. As a result of the investigation, police were looking for a short white male suspect possibly driving a Green Grand Am. Ferndale Patrol Sergeant Dan Simon noticed a green Grand Am parked in the lot of the 8-Wood Motel on 8 Mile Rd. in Ferndale. Upon investigating, he found that the Grand Am was owned by Westpfahl who matched the description of the suspect and who was out on Supervised Release under watch of the US Probation Department. He had been convicted of Bank Robbery in 2006.

After Westpfahl’s arrest, Detectives gathered more evidence and obtained a warrant charging him with Bank Robbery – a felony for which he can be sentenced to Life in prison. He was arraigned by Magistrate Brennan who set bond at $200,000 cash or surety.

Investigations are continuing as to the other bank robberies and Westpfahl may face more charges in the future.

Here is the link to the story about the Dec. 6 robbery – http://oaklandcounty115.com/2011/12/06/police-suspect-wanted-in-charter-one-robbery/