Fail: Alarm, Ladder Lead Missouri Deputy To Robbery Suspect From Oklahoma

NewsOn6.com

TIFF CITY, Missouri -- A Wyandotte, Oklahoma man found hiding in the ceiling of a Tiff City, Missouri bank early Saturday, February 19, 2011, has been charged with second degree burglary, attempted robbery and causing property damage.

Leonard Harmon, 20, was arrested by a McDonald County Sheriff's deputy who found him hiding behind some heating ductwork.

In a probable cause statement, the deputy said Harmon had used a ladder to get to the roof of the Cornerstone Bank, where he cut a 2 by 2 foot hole in the roof and climbed into the crawl space.

That activated the bank's alarm, which caused the deputy to check out the bank.  The deputy saw the ladder, climbed to the roof and found the hole.

Harmon told the deputy he was planning to drop into a restroom once the bank opened and force a female employee to open the bank's vault so he could take the money.

Court paperwork says damage to the bank was about $750.

Harmon remains in the McDonald County jail.