Father of alleged homeless bank robber says son acted out of ‘desperation’

A few minutes earlier, his son, Michael Adkins Jr., 27, had his robbery charge, a third-degree felony, bound over to a Butler County grand jury by Middletown Municipal Court Judge James Sherron.

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His bond remains at $25,000.

As Adkins was led back to jail, he told his father he loved him. A young girl in the courtroom said: “Love you, Daddy.”

Adkins Sr. said his son used to have a good-paying job at AK Steel. He said he has no idea why his son, now homeless, allegedly walked into the River Valley Credit Union on Aug. 16, wrote a note and handed it to a teller, demanding money and for her not to call police.

“Desperation maybe,” his father said. “It’s like this is a dream and I want to pinch myself. It’s not a dream. It’s the truth.”

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Adkins, whose address is listed as “at large,” told Middletown police he wanted “to get back on my feet” and buy a car. Detective Jon Hoover testified that Adkins also said his girlfriend is pregnant.

Adkins left the credit union with $2,476 in cash, and as he ran away from the bank, a dye pack inside the bag exploded, according to a police report obtained by the Journal-News. A witness told police the red dye exploded and got “all over him and the money,” the report read.

That’s when Adkins allegedly threw some of the money on the ground near Grand Avenue. Police recovered $990, according to the report. Police also recovered a T-shirt that was covered with red dots, the report read.

Adkins was taken into custody by Middletown police and the State Highway Patrol in the area of Batsy Drive and Breiel Boulevard, less than a half-mile away from the credit union, said Maj. Scott Reeve from the Middletown Division of Police.

After he was apprehended, Adkins was transported to the police station, and during his interview with a detective, he allegedly admitted to the crime, Hoover said.

Adkins faces up to five years in prison with a $10,000 fine if convicted of the robbery charge.