'Please pardon me': Utah man Donald Matthew Santacroce, 65, politely robs bank of $1 and waits to be arrested
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: An Utah man was detained on Monday, March 6 after he robbed a bank of merely $1 and waited for authorities to arrive in the lobby because he wanted to go to federal prison, according to police. Donald Matthew Santacroce, 65, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail as they investigated the robbery at a bank near 300 South Main Street.
Along with a patrol sergeant, responding cops were able to securely enter the bank and arrest Santacroce. Officers booked Santacroce into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of robbery as per the Salt Lake City Police department's news release. It added, "Special agents from the Salt Lake City field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) responded to help with the investigation."
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'Please give me $1'
Santacroce entered Wells Fargo, 299 S Main, and gave the teller a note that stated, "Please pardon me for doing this but this is a robbery. Please give me $1. Thank you," according to a police booking affidavit seen by local media outlet KSL. The teller gave Santacroce a dollar and then asked him to leave. But Santacroce instead told the teller to call the police, the affidavit states.
"Donald sat down in the bank lobby and waited for police to arrive," the report said. The affidavit stated that, "While waiting for the police, Donald made a statement to the victims that they are lucky (he) didn't have a gun because it was taking the police so long to get there. At this point, the branch manager said she ushered all of her employees into a back room for their safety where she locked the doors".
'He will rob another bank'
Santacroce wanted to get arrested and go to prison as he warned the law enforcement if they did not arrest him he will rob another bank and ask for more money in order to land him in federal prison.
"Donald said he had done this because he wanted to get arrested and go to federal prison," the report further said citing the affidavit. "Donald stated that if he gets out of jail, he will rob another bank and ask for more money next time trying to get the desired result of going to federal prison," the arrest report stated, as per the media outlet.
Notably, this was not his first arrest as the Utah Highway Patrol detained Santacroce a week ago, in Iron County during a DUI and reckless driving investigation. The police observed that Santacroce was operating a vehicle when his license was suspended outside of Missouri.