DETROIT – A man accused of wearing a clown mask during a string of robberies in southeast Michigan and throughout Ohio made his initial appearance Tuesday in federal court in Ohio.
Todd Raymond Keith is charged with bank robbery and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with the robbery of a Key Bank branch in Augusta Township. More charges are expected.
Keith waived his preliminary hearing to have his case heard in Detroit's federal court.
Bank robbery in Augusta Township
According to the criminal complaint, the KeyBank at 5300 Willis Road was robbed about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 3 by a man wearing a Halloween mask and armed with a shotgun. The bank robber demanded money and asked to see the teller’s driver’s license, telling her that he would kill her family and children if the money contained a dye pack or bait money.
The robber left with her driver’s license and $8,000 cash in a white plastic basket.
Surveillance video showed the masked robber leave the Key bank in a silver colored Dodge Journey with damage to the driver’s side rear quarter panel, authorities said.
Former girlfriend links Keith to bank robbery
The same vehicle was seen Oct. 4, parked in the driveway of the home of the parents of Keith’s former girlfriend in Lincoln Park, and was impounded by Michigan State Police.
Keith's ex-girlfriend was interviewed and told authorities that Keith is the father of their daughter. She told authorities that he borrowed the vehicle early on Oct. 3 and returned it later in the evening. She said Keith was with another person in the garage and basement of her home and made multiple trips to the home over the weekend.
Keith’s former girlfriend consented to a search of her home in Melvindale, where authorities said they found a shotgun stolen from a home in Van Buren Township, the sawed-off wooden stock from a Remington shotgun, a plastic money basket, money wrappers and a UPC tag from Walmart for a Halloween mask.
Shotgun stolen from home in Van Buren Township
According to the complaint, a home in Van Buren Township was robbed Sept. 30 at about 10 a.m. and among the items stolen were two shotguns. One of the shotguns was a Remington pump action shotgun with a scope.
A witness saw a red Ford pickup truck with an enclosed black trailer in the area at the time of the robbery.
Police made contact with Keith
According to the complaint, a home in Van Buren Township was robbed about 10 a.m. Sept. 30, and among the items stolen were two shotguns. One of the shotguns was a Remington pump-action shotgun with a scope.
A witness saw a red Ford pickup truck with an enclosed black trailer in the area at the time of the robbery.
Equipment stolen from Keith’s former employer
A mini-skid excavator and a tree stump grinder were stolen about 4 a.m. Sept. 29 from a landscape company in Scio Township, the complaint said. The owner identified Keith, who was a former employee, in surveillance video, and a pickup truck with an attached trailer was seen in the area at the time of the robbery.
Truck belonged to Keith’s current employer
Two days prior to the theft of equipment from Keith’s former employer, his current employer loaned Keith a red Ford F-250 pickup truck and a dark blue 24-foot trailer, according to the complaint.
Keith taken into custody
The FBI confirmed Friday that Keith was in custody after a manhunt stretching across state lines.
Keith was pinned down by officials from local police departments and the FBI after he allegedly fired shot at a bank in Delaware County, Ohio.
READ: Metro Detroit clown suspect on run from police after shots fired in Ohio
Keith was allegedly on the run in the woods in Brown County after he abandoned a stolen black Lexus he was driving.
Pumpkin-masked robber fires gun at Ohio bank
Police released 911 calls after they say Keith robbed a Delaware County bank in a pumpkin mask. The robbery was reported at the Delaware County Bank at 34 Evergreen Avenue in Ohio.
Witnesses told police a man fired shots at the bank and one person sustained a cut, but there was no money stolen.
"We just got shot at," the man told police in the 911 call. "It was a man, probably about 6 foot 2. He was wearing a Halloween mask. It was a pumpkin mask."
You can listen to the 911 calls below.
Keith is charged with two counts of bank robbery in Ypsilanti. Officials said he robbed the Chase bank on Sept. 30 and the Key bank on Oct. 3. In both robberies, the suspect was disguised with "Halloween type masks" and armed with a weapon.
Keith is also considered a person of interest in two hotel robberies -- the Embassy Suites and Days Inn -- Thursday in Livonia and an armed robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy Tuesday in Brownstown Township. He is also a person of interest in a carjacking of a black Lexus in Madison Heights.
Witnesses in Delaware County told police the pumpkin-masked man pointed a gun toward the bank door and, when employees didn't open the door, fired a shot.
Witnesses said the man drove away in a "dark-colored compact car."
A woman asked Delaware County police to send a medic because a person was "hit with glass from the door."
"We didn't give him anything," the woman said. "Not a thing. He shot through the door."
Keith is considered armed and dangerous, police said.
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FBI searches for Todd Raymond Keith
The FBI is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man accused of wearing a clown mask to commit a string of crimes around Metro Detroit.
Federal authorities and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office identified a man who is charged with committing multiple bank robberies in Ypsilanti and suspected of robbing hotels in Livonia while disguised as a clown.
READ: Dearborn police arrest 3 'scary clowns'
Todd Raymond Keith, 37, is charged with two counts of bank robbery in Ypsilanti. He is considered armed and dangerous, according to FBI officials.
Authorities said Keith robbed the Chase bank on Sept. 30 and the Key bank on Oct. 3. In both robberies, the suspect was disguised with "Halloween type masks" and armed with a weapon.
Shots were fired at Livonia police during a car chase following the hotel robberies, sources told Local 4 Thursday. The gunman was driving a blue Chevy Malibu and led police on a chase through several cities.
Dashcam footage showed the cars hitting speeds of up to 90 mph. Shots were fired at officers while the chase continued along Merriman Road and Ann Arbor Trail.
Nobody was hit by the shots and there were no injuries, police said.
The gunman escaped, sparking a massive manhunt.
MORE: List of clown-related crime in Metro Detroit
Keith is also considered a person of interest in two hotel robberies -- the Embassy Suites and Days Inn -- Thursday in Livonia and an armed robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy Tuesday in Brownstown Township. He is also a person of interest in a carjacking of a black Lexus in Madison Heights.
During the carjacking, Keith was allegedly wearing a mask that looked like a pumpkin while he robbed a 44-year-old woman of her purse and car.
He was last seen driving a stolen black Lexus in Tiffin, Ohio – Mighigan plate BGQ815. Perkins Township police pursued the vehicle in a chase exceeding 120 miles per hour before losing the vehicle.
Keith is described as white, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 230 pounds, and has hazel eyes and black hair.
MORE CLOWNS: 2 women dressed as clowns arrested in Roseville after chasing 14-year-old girls
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI. A $1,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
You can read more about the crimes allegedly connected to Keith below.
Armed clown robs Walgreens in Brownstown Township
A person wearing a clown mask and armed with a pistol robbed a Walgreens Tuesday night in Brownstown Township.
The robbery happened at about 9:30 p.m. at the Walgreens on Telegraph Road, according to Brownstown police.
MORE: Detroit police frustrated by crimes involving fake clowns
The clown entered the store and raised the gun up, robbing the clerk and fleeing in an SUV.
The clown was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and a mask.
Police also say the clown pointed his gun at two customers on the way out, telling them to get back in their cars.
RELATED: Creepy clowns now menacing children in Georgia as sightings expand
The armed robbery happened just hours after a boy in Sterling Heights was attacked by a man dressed as a clown and two women were frightened by an alley of clowns with baseball bats.
Over the weekend, a clown was spotted waving at cars in Clinton Township which had residents on edge.
Embassy Suites in Livonia robbed at gunpoint by man wearing clown mask
Police are investigating an armed robbery at a hotel Thursday morning in Livonia involving a person wearing a clown mask.
The armed robbery happened at the Embassy Suites on Victor Parkway at 7:12 a.m.
A man in a clown mask entered the lobby and robbed guests, taking a purse and wallet. The hotel was also robbed.
The gunman was described as black and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and a clown mask. It is believed he was using a blue car to flee the scene.
READ: What's with all the clowns everywhere? 6 legit possibilities
Authorities said the robbery and description matches similar incidents across Metro Detroit. Livonia police is contacting other departments to coordinate an investigation.
Embassy Suites released the following statement:
"Earlier today, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Livonia Novi was among local businesses recently targeted in robberies involving clown-masked perpetrators. The hotel staff and leadership team immediately implemented proper protocols to ensure guest and staff safety and is fully cooperating in police investigations following the robbery. We are unable to provide any further details regarding the investigation. Hotel safety is of upmost priority for our hotel brand, ownership and management and in the wake of this event, our team will continue to take all steps necessary to ensure we are providing our guests and hotel staff with the safest environment possible."
No other information is available.
A Walgreens in Brownstown Township was robbed by an armed clown Tuesday night. Hours later, a boy in Sterling Heights was attacked by man dressed as a clown and two women were frightened by an alley of clowns with baseball bats.
Two robberies involving people wearing clown masks also occurred Tuesday night in Ann Arbor. A BP gas station and a Dominos Pizza were robbed and police believe the incidents are connected.
Shots fired at officers during pursuit after hotel robbery involving clown in Livonia
Shots were fired at Livonia police Thursday morning during a pursuit after a hotel robbery, according to police sources.
The robbery occurred at the Days Inn in Livonia. Sources say the man was wearing a clown mask.
The gunman was driving a blue Chevy Malibu and a police pursuit was underway, leading officers across several cities. The Malibu has no license plates.
Dashcam video shows the cars hitting speeds of more than 90 mph. The Malibu turned right in front of a Livonia police officer and the chase was on.
WATCH: Man wearing clown mask arrested in Houston park
Sources say shots were fired at police officers while the chase continued along Merriman Road and Ann Arbor Trail. Witnesses say they heard multiple gunshots.
Nobody was hit by the shots and there were no injuries in the chase, police said.
The gunman escaped, sparking a massive manhunt. Police believe he's the same man in a clown mask who robbed a BP and a Domino's in Ann Arbor late Tuesday. He's also believed to have hit a Walgreens in Brownstown Township Wednesday and the Livonia Embassy Suites in Livonia Thursday morning.
"A clown guy with a clown costume on," a hotel desk described.
Surveillance video from the hotel shows a blue Malibu arriving and a man in a hooded sweatshirt getting out of the driver seat and enters the hotel.
Once inside the hotel lobby, the man can be seen standing at the front counter pointing a gun. The man walked around the lobby, pointing the gun out in front of him.
You can watch the surveillance footage and read much more about this story by clicking here.
"He said, 'Give me all the money, give me all the money,'" Kush Solanki, the Days Inn manager, said.
"I was so afraid of that," Sid Babburi, who works at the Days Inn front desk, said. "This is the first experience with that."
This time, it was the robber who got scared and ran out without any money. But he's still out there.
Afterwards, video shows the man back in the Malibu, pulling away from the hotel lobby.
Woman carjacked by armed man wearing pumpkin mask in Madison Heights
A woman, 44, was carjacked in Madison Heights on Thursday by an armed man who was wearing an orange pumpkin mask and a black hooded sweatshirt, police said.
The woman was carjacked near the Sona Pharmacy at 27745 Dequindre Road. She said she was sitting in the driver's seat when the man pointed a handgun at her and stole her purse and her Lexus.
He was last seen driving the Lexus south on Dequindre Road. The Lexus was last seen in Ohio and still has not been recovered.
Anyone with information is asked to call police.
Man suspected in string of clown-masked robberies hits Madison Heights hotel
A man who wore a pumpkin mask to steal a woman's car in Madison Heights on Thursday is suspected of wearing a clown mask to rob the Extended Stay hotel at 32690 Stephenson Highway.
Police said a man wearing a clown mask walked into the Extended Stay hotel at 6:20 a.m. Thursday armed with a handgun. The man forced the hotel night clerk to give him money from the cash drawer before fleeing in an unknown direction, police said.
Officials said the clown robber matches the description of a carjacker who stole a woman's Lexus in the 27700 block of Dequindre Road in Madison Heights. The man in that incident was also armed with a handgun, but was wearing a mask that looked like a pumpkin, police said.
READ: Schools asked to ban clown costumes amid investigation
A 44-year-old woman was sitting in the driver's seat of the Lexus when the man walked up with the handgun and took her car and purse.
The man fled in the Lexus, heading south on Dequindre Road, police said. The Lexus was last seen in Ohio and still has not been recovered.
The man is also believed to be connected to robberies in Brownstown Township and Livonia. Madison Heights police investigators, Oakland County Sheriff's auto theft investigators and the FBI are involved in the investigation.
Anyone with information on the incidents or who has seen the Lexus is asked to call Madison Heights police at 248-585-2100.