Armed robber holds CU branch employee hostage for more than six hours

Police allege Nicholas August sexually assaulted the employee during the hostage ordeal.

An armed robber walked into the Rockford, Ill.-branch of the $375 million Heritage Credit Union Friday, holding a 39-year-old female employee hostage for six and a half hours when he allegedly sexually assaulted her, according to Rockford police investigators.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m., Rockford police and authorities from four other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies responded to a robbery in progress at the credit union’s branch at 5350 East State Street.

SWAT team members surrounded the credit union and established contact with the suspect, Nicholas August, 39, of Rockford.

Investigators learned that August entered the branch and threatened employees. He then took a female employee hostage and ordered the other employees out of the branch.

 

continue reading »