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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

In Reply, Please Refer to Release No.

219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604

August 22, 2003 Charges Filed in South Loop Bank Robbery Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of PATRICK L. STITMAN, age 51, whose last known address was in the 5200 block of South Pulaski in Chicago. STITMAN was arrested yesterday afternoon, without incident, following the robbery of a TCF Bank branch, located inside a Jewel Food Store at 1224 South Wabash Avenue in Chicago. STITMAN was charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Bank Robbery, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, STITMAN approached a teller and announced a robbery. Although he claimed to be armed with a handgun, no weapon was displayed. After receiving approximately $4,000 in cash, STITMAN attempted to flee but was detained by a store security guard, aided by several customers. STITMAN was taken into custody by responding officers from the Chicago Police Department, who subsequently turned him over to the FBI. No injuries were reported during the robbery. The FBI is investigating to determine if STITMAN was involved in any other unsolved Chicago area bank robberies. STITMAN appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier this morning, at which time he was ordered held without bond pending his next scheduled court appearance. If convicted of the charge against him, STITMAN faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years incarceration. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against STITMAN is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.

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