Faygo Red Pop used as lure in fatal Saginaw Township bank hostage standoff
SAGINAW, MI — It was a Faygo Red Pop that hastened the end of a multi-hour hostage situation inside a Saginaw Township bank branch. The beverage dangled from a drone and, as the would-be robber stood in front of a window to retrieve it, a police trooper fired a shot from a nearby rooftop, mortally wounding the suspect and bringing the standoff to a close.Police have identified the slain suspect as Quinton M. Allen, 31 of Detroit, confirmed Michigan State Police Lt. Kim Vetter.
Allen at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27, visited the Mercantile Saginaw Virtual Branch and Lending Office at 5444 State St., Suite 2, though the branch had closed a half-hour earlier. He encountered a lone 40-year-old female employee and said he wanted to cash a check, which turned out to be fraudulent, Vetter said.
The branch does not have cash on hand and requires customers to make appointments. Police did not say how he was able to enter the building after it had closed for the day.
The employee informed Allen she could not cash his check, at which point he attacked her and demanded money, Vetter said. Allen used a sharp object as a weapon but was not armed with a gun, the lieutenant confirmed.
Police from numerous agencies responded to the scene in one of the township’s busiest commercial districts. They erected a perimeter and closed roughly a half-mile of State Street between Center and Wieneke road for several hours Friday evening. A crowd of civilian spectators still gathered nearby, taking photos and videos of the incident.
Police negotiated with Allen as he kept the woman captive inside. During their discussions, Allen requested a Faygo Red Pop, Vetter said.
About 8:05 p.m., an MSP drone flew to the building with a 24-ounce bottle of the red soda hanging from it. As the beverage dangled in front of a window, Allen appeared and a member of the MSP Emergency Services Team fired a single rifle shot from his position on the roof of the AutoZone Auto Parts store located across the street at 5545 State St., Vetter said.
Allen did not step outside of the building prior to being shot, she added. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion, but Vetter said that was just the sound of the rifle shot.
Police rushed in and escorted the Mercantile employee outside, draping a blanket around her shoulders. She was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. She was discharged later the same night.
Allen died from his wound.
Allen absconded from the Saginaw County TRI-CAP Program on June 21, confirmed Executive Director Gary Davis. TRI-CAP is a Probation Residential Center at 2300 Veterans Memorial Parkway offering an alternative placement option to jail or prison for male or female offenders. Residents receive support, counseling, educational services and 24-hour supervision.
Allen had no further contact with TRI-CAP once he walked away, Davis said.
“We are saddened by the events that occurred and extend our heartfelt thoughts to the victim and all those affected,” Davis said.
Michigan Department of Corrections records show Allen was on probation out of Wayne and Macomb counties on convictions of breaking and entering and first-degree retail fraud, respectively.
MLive reached out to Mercantile but did not immediately hear back. The bank’s Facebook account posted Friday night the location would be closed until further notice, with its website stating it remains closed as of Monday, June 30.
“Out of respect for those involved and to avoid interfering with the ongoing investigation, we are not sharing further details at this time,” reads Mercantile’s Facebook post.
Several neighboring financial institutions have shared posts of solidarity with Mercantile.
“Some days demand more than any of us expect. You answered with courage. We stand beside you with strength,” reads a post from Jolt Credit Union.
“Our hearts are with Mercantile Bank, its employees, and everyone affected by Friday’s events,” added Health Advantage Credit Union. “This is a difficult time for our community, and we’re thankful for those who worked to keep others safe.”
The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce likewise shared its “heartfelt thoughts to our friends at Mercantile Bank.”
The EST member who fired the fatal shot has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, as is standard practice whenever a trooper shoots someone. Once police have wrapped their investigation, they will forward their reports to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office for review.
An MSP policy mandates all use-of-force incidents involving troopers be directly forwarded to the AG’s Office rather than the prosecutor of the county where an incident occurred.
Allen’s death is Saginaw County’s 15th homicide and the first in Saginaw Township so far this year. His death is also the second this year to result from officers’ bullets, the first being that of Corin M. Skinner, 33, shot by two Saginaw police officers the evening of March 30. Skinner attacked a third officer with a knife, prompting the other two to fire.
Prosecutors deemed the officers’ justified in their use of lethal force.
