Bank robbery suspect in custody after standoff

Canton Township — A standoff with a bank robber who took employees hostage at Citizens Bank has ended, police said.

Two hostages were released at 6:20 p.m. and after negotiations, the suspect was taken into custody around 7:45 p.m. without incident, investigators said in a statement.

Ten police cars and a special operations team had amassed at the bank, located at 285 N. Canton Center Road during the standoff. 

Police said the suspect barricaded himself inside the bank with employees. No injuries were reported. 

Police used megaphones to call out to the suspect. “Sir, if you come out, no one will get hurt. We just want to talk to you,” they said. 

Hanna Gocaj of Canton Township was nearby at 3 p.m. when the police began to arrive at the bank. "I watched two ladies run out the side and a cop took them to safety," she said.

“I got there about 15 minutes after the cops were there, but since I first arrived, the Livonia police and SWAT teams came, and the mobile unit showed up.”

Police had shut down Canton Center Road near Cherry Hill while they negotiated an end to the standoff. The road has since reopened.

srahal@detroitnews.com

Staff Writer Mark Hicks contributed.