TOPEKA, KANSAS —Federal charges were filed Friday against two men who allegedly held five bank employees at gunpoint. One of the suspects beat two workers, including dragging a female by the hair during the armed robbery of the Bank of America, according to officials.
Clifton B. Cloyd, 53, and Steven A. Watts, 54, were charged with one count of bank robbery and one count each of brandishing a firearm during the robbery.
The two were arrested Wednesday as they fled with the money they stole, officials said.
According to the affidavit, five bank employees and a customer were held at gunpoint. Cloyd who was armed with a handgun grabbed one of the bank employees and pulled her by the hair and scarf to the teller station. He struck her in the face three times with the handgun. The blow was so hard her glasses flew off, and she was knocked to the floor.
Cloyd then hit a male employee with such force that his head started bleeding. Watts pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded she open the safe, according to the criminal affidavit.
Both defendants are facing from 10 years to 25 years behind bars, officials said.
Cloyd and Watts are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
KCTV5