[StBernard] Chalmette man arrested in bank robbery

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette man arrested in bank robbery

Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 3:51 PM     Updated: Wednesday, July
20, 2011, 3:55 PM

 By Kim Chatelain, The Times-Picayune 

At around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Michael Sextion of Chalmette called his wife and
told her he was "about to do something stupid," authorities said.

A short time later, investigators said, he rode a bicycle to Capital One
Bank at 951 W. St. Bernard Highway and, implying he had a gun, handed a
teller a note saying he needed money and that he did not intend to hurt
anyone. The teller complied, and Sextion allegedly walked out with an
undisclosed amount of money.

Sextion, 35, of 216 Eighth St., was caught about an hour after the robbery
when St. Bernard sheriff's Deputy Joe Moore spotted him walking along West
St. Bernard Highway. Sextion, who had changed clothes and ditched the
bicycle, was arrested without incident and booked with first-degree robbery.
He is being held without bond in St. Bernard Parish Prison, authorities
said.

Chief Deputy James Pohlmann said the suspect told detectives that he robbed
the bank because he had recently lost his job and needed money for his
family, which includes three children.

Most of the stolen money was found in Sextion's wallet, and the bicycle was
recovered near the bank, Pohlmann said. It was the first bank robbery in St.
Bernard Parish since prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he said.