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Police say a man walked into Fortress Bank, 225 Lafayette St., at 9:52 a.m. and handed a teller a note that said, "Hi, I am Thomas Mason."
The note went on to demand $1,000 in $100 and $20 bills and that he would, "kill everyone in the bank if he had to come back with weapon in hand," police reports said.
The teller gave the man the money and the suspect left. Bank employees saw him go to Midtown Foods, police said. The employees then continued to watch the Midtown Foods entrance until police arrived.
Police searched Midtown but couldn't find the suspect.
At 10:14 a.m., Officer Chris Stark found a man matching the description of the robber behind Third Street Liquor. The man was drinking beer from a case he'd just purchased from the liquor store and scratching off the $100 worth of lottery tickets he'd purchased from Midtown Foods.
According to Stark's report, when he approached, the man said, "I think I am the guy you want."
The man is identified as Thomas Eugene Mason, 37, of 252 W. Seventh St.
Stark patted him down and found $813 cash and the note but no weapon.
Mason is being charged with aggravated robbery and terrorist threats and is being held at the Winona County Jail. His past criminal history includes a theft conviction.
The incident was captured on the bank's security tape.
"He's not a career bank robber," said Sgt. Chris Nelson. "He certainly makes the list of dumbest criminals."
