Suspects in attempted armed robbery now in federal custody

Two men accused of trying to rob the Willoughby-Eastlake Schools Credit Union with an assault rifle were placed in federal custody Nov. 13, according to FBI Special Agent Vicki Anderson.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Oct. 11, an off-duty uniformed Willoughby police officer was working security at the Second Street bank.

The officer said two males wearing hoodies entered the front vestibule of the credit union with a loaded Smith & Wesson MP-15 assault

rifle.

The officer reportedly drew his duty-issued firearm and ordered the culprits to drop the assault rifle

that had been aimed at him. The men turned and ran out the door, dropping the weapon in the vestibule on their way out, according to reports.

The suspects were later identified as 22-year-old Arvis Williams of Cleveland and a 16-year-old juvenile after being located minutes later in a Sharpe Avenue back yard.

The alleged getaway driver, 20-year-old Melvin Hill of Cleveland, also was arrested after being seen driving a silver Ford Fusion that was registered to Williams, police said.

Williams and Hill appeared in a federal courtroom Nov. 13 for their initial

appearance on two counts each of bank robbery.

The juvenile suspect is not being charged federally.

According to an FBI news release, additional federal charges are anticipated as Hill and Williams are suspected of being responsible for several credit union robberies.

After the duo fled the credit union, the detail officer reportedly chased them through a residential area of West Clark Avenue in Willoughby.

Patrol officers set up a perimeter around Sharpe Avenue.

Hill was apprehended after parking the Ford on Clark Avenue.