Troy C. Crane, 56, of Plainfield, was arrested and charged after reportedly threatening to rob a North Plainfield bank on Aug. 12, 2016.
NORTH PLAINFIELD -- A Plainfield man who said he wanted to go to jail in order to end his drug addiction was arrested after he reportedly threatened to rob a bank if a teller didn't cash a personal check, according to an affidavit filed in Somerset County Superior Court.
Troy C. Crane (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)After he received money from the teller, Troy C. Crane, 56, reportedly sat down in a chair in the bank and, moments later, walked back to the teller, returned the money and asked "how long will the cops take to get here?," according to a Somerset County Prosecutor's Office news release issued Monday.
Township police responded to the Valley National Bank on Route 22 east at 11:20 a.m. on Friday on a report of a bank alarm, according to the affidavit.
Police were reportedly told that Crane attempted to cash a Valley National Bank personal check made out to him in the amount of $275. When Crane was told the bank couldn't cash the check until it received confirmation from the account holder, he became upset and left, according to the release.
Shortly thereafter, Crane allegedly returned to the bank and spoke with a different teller, saying he "needed money." He also allegedly told the teller he would "attempt to rob this place" if the check wasn't cashed, according to the news release.
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The teller gave Crane a sum of money and he reportedly proceeded to sit down in a nearby chair. A short time later, he walked back to the teller and placed the money on the counter, asking when the police would arrive, it was stated in the release. Crane remained in the bank and was arrested without incident.
Detectives from the township police department, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene, according to the release.
Crane was charged with third-degree uttering a forged document and third-degree false public alarm. He was held in the Somerset County Jail on $15,000 bail with a 10 percent option.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.