Man accused of robbery, threats begins trial

A jury trial is underway for a man who allegedly threatened to douse a Willoughby bank and its employees with gasoline if they didn’t give him money.

Jabrowan Parks, 39, of Willoughby is accused of the July 2, 2018, robbery of the Fifth Third Bank located at 5831 SOM Center Road.

Police believe it was Parks who entered the bank wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying a red gas can around 2:24 p.m. that afternoon.

Police said an employee asked him several times to take off the helmet as he stood in the lobby. He refused and walked up to the tellers, demanding all of the cash from their drawers. The suspect threatened to douse them and the bank in gasoline, waving the can at them.

Parks allegedly fled from the bank with nearly $10,000. He was seen running across SOM Center Road in the area of Halle Drive. No one was hurt during the incident.

Police believe that Parks was picked up by his brother Anthony in a white Lexus sedan. Anthony pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree felony robbery by way of North Carolina v. Alford — essentially a guilty plea where the defendant maintains his innocence.

Though he admitted to being the getaway driver, Anthony maintained that he was unaware of the bank robbery until after his brother got into the car. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office argued that Anthony was more involved with the robbery than he said. Anthony was sentenced in June to six years in prison.

Parks is facing charges of first-degree felony aggravated burglary, first-degree felony kidnapping, seconddegree felony kidnapping, second-degree felony robbery, second-degree felony attempted arson and thirddegree felony tampering with evidence.

His case is being tried before Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Eugene A. Lucci.

SUBMITTED Anthony Parks, left, and Jabrown Parks