In the small town of Rush City north of Minneapolis, the Northwoods Bank is offering anyone $5,000 for information about a recent bank robbery. The alleged robbery took place earlier this month when a man reportedly entered the bank shortly after noon, requesting that a teller put money in a plastic bag. Although police reports claim the man said he had a gun, there is currently no way to prove that he did, as the teller did not say he or she saw a weapon.
What is disconcerting is that the bank that was robbed is apparently offering a $5,000 award for information relating to the robbery. This is not necessarily an uncommon tactic when looking for a suspect, but it raises serious questions about the accuracy of the tips that will come in. Inevitably, there will be false or inaccurate tips, some of which could lead to a full investigation. This is a problem, of course, because it exposes innocent parties to the rigors of a police investigation.
Beyond the stigma of an arrest or being asked to go to the police station for questioning regarding a theft, being a suspect, if even for a short while, could mean that the individual’s reputation is on the line. People will speculate and rumors will fly, especially in a small town like Rush City, and it may be very difficult to get those rumors to stop, no matter how inaccurate they may be.
Ultimately, it is important that anyone suspected of a crime work closely with an experienced criminal defense attorney. Trying to prove your innocence can be difficult and talking to police may seem innocent, until you have said something that raises police suspicion even more. An attorney, however, can help clear up any mistakes or false accusations.
Source: CBS Minnesota, “$5K Reward Offered To Catch Bank Robbery Suspect,” Feb. 27, 2013
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