The FBI has filed charges against a man who robbed a bank in Highland Park, telling the teller to comply because he “didn’t want it to get messy,” before later being captured by police and confessing to the robbery.
The Highland Park Police Department responded around 3:04 p.m. on April 14 to the Chase Bank, 255 Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park, for a call reporting a bank robbery that had just occurred.
A criminal complaint affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said a teller saw a male white, heavy-set, approximately 6-foot-1, wearing a black hat, big backpack and jeans, walk in and go to the check writing station in the middle of the bank.
The man, later identified as Henry Marten, who is homeless, appeared to be writing for approximately 5-7 minutes before walking up to the teller counter.
Marten provided a handwritten note to the teller that said, “Please place all cash you have in your drawer, place in bag and hand to me quickly and quietly. My intent is to leave without harm. Thank you.”
Marten verbally told the teller, who felt threatened and was in fear for their life, not to say anything and “do what it says, I don’t want it to get messy.”
The teller only had $40 in the top drawer of the register and became fearful that the money would not be enough for the suspect.
The teller provided additional money from other drawers as well and handed it to Marten, who placed it into a bag and said, “This isn’t personal” as he walked away from the teller.
Marten walked out of the bank and the teller informed co-workers of the robbery and they called 911 to report the bank robbery. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
One of the tellers saw the suspect walking toward the rear area of a nearby business and informed 911 dispatchers of a description.
Highland Park police officers arrived quickly, established a perimeter and began searching for the suspect, city officials said.
A subject matching the provided description was located by a police detective walking on foot at the Shell gas station, 10 Skokie Valley Road.
Marten identified himself to officers, who asked him where he was coming from. He said he was on his way to the train.
Marten admitted to being at Chase Bank and confirmed he had passed a note to the employees. “I’ve tried everything I’ve had to stay alive,” he said to the officers.
Marten directed the officers to the note in his backpack, which also had the blue bank deposit bag with a large amount of cash.
Just over $4,800 in cash was recovered. Marten told officers he had robbed the bank to “get to somewhere I can take a shower and eat.”
He said he was homeless and if he goes to a shelter, “they don’t care about you” and “it’s like jail, so I might as well be in jail.” Marten had traveled to Highland Park by train and bus.
The Chase Bank teller positively identified Marten as the suspect who passed the note during the robbery.
Police collected physical evidence from the bank and Marten was transferred into the custody of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Marten was charged with one count of bank robbery by force or violence and remains held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after his defense attorney did not object to prosecutors’ request to hold him pending trial.
A next court hearing has not been scheduled.