Police: Suspect walked into ABC Action News lobby before robbing bank

TAMPA - A man showed up the in the lobby of ABC Action News right before he went across the street and robbed a bank, according to Tampa Police.

Detectives say 35-year-old Tod Stewart walked into the Florida Bank on 4105 North Himes Avenue Friday afternoon around 3 p.m. and handed a note to a teller demanding money.

He implied he had a weapon, police said. Stewart took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the bank, according to detectives.

While canvassing the neighborhood, detectives visited ABC Action News and spoke with receptionist Peggy Philmore. She said the suspect had been in the lobby of the broadcast station just minutes before he allegedly robbed the bank.

She told detectives that Stewart complained about being named as a suspect in a Temple Terrace arson last year in an ABC Action News report.

Philmore wrote down his name, and then Stewart crossed the street and robbed the Florida Bank, police said. Stewart was caught on surveillance video leaving the station, and video from the bank also matched the suspect.

Detectives learned that Stewart had a personal safety box at GTE Federal Credit Union on West Waters Avenue.

When he walked into their lobby today around 4 p.m., bank officials called Tampa Police and he was taken into custody without incident.

Stewart declined to comment.