A man accused of stealing a car and robbing a bank was mistakenly released Wednesday from the Lucas County Jail.
Don Woodson Ellis, 28, is charged with bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to an affidavit from the FBI Cleveland office.
Ellis departed the jail at roughly 10:27 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Special Agent Vicki Anderson with the FBI Cleveland division. At the time he was wearing a black T-shirt, knee-length light blue shorts, and white tennis shoes with dark laces. He was using the name Antwon Moore at the time of his departure.
Armed & Dangerous: #toledopolice are working with @FBI to locate Don Woodson Ellis. Ellis, age 28, is 6’0”, 150 lbs. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, light color jean shorts, & white high tops shoes with a blue toe. Escape, armed bank robbery, & armed carjacking. pic.twitter.com/ey4nqtBW1w
— Toledo Police (@ToledoPolice) August 16, 2018
Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp would not go into detail about how Ellis was released from jail other than to note in a media release he “used deception.” He acknowledged that it was a mistake and, as sheriff, is his responsibility.
“There’s no excuse for this,” he said.
The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office is working with local law enforcement as well as the FBI, Sheriff Tharp said. Officials are also asking the public for help to find Ellis.
“We’re looking for him,” he said. “We have everybody out searching for him.”
Lt. Kevan Toney, spokesman for the Toledo Police Department, asked that the public be on the lookout for Ellis and share his picture.
“We’re concerned for the risk Ellis poses to the public,” he said.
The FBI said Ellis is considered armed and dangerous.
Prosecutors allege that just after 9 a.m. Monday, Ellis walked into Fifth Third Bank at 3428 Glendale Ave. and told the tellers, “I want all your money or you are going to get hurt,” an affidavit shows. He also put his hand on the side of his hip to indicate he had a weapon. The tellers gave him money with two GPS tracking units, and Ellis ran out the door.
Witnesses saw Ellis get into a maroon Pontiac Grand Prix with tinted windows and drive away, according to the affidavit. Police pursued the vehicle, and Ellis eventually crashed the car. He was apprehended while attempting to flee and told police money and a gun were both in the car.
Hours earlier, at about 4:20 a.m., the same car Ellis was driving was stolen at gunpoint from a gas station on South Avenue, the affidavit shows. The robber matched Ellis’ description.
Ellis was convicted of bank robbery in 2012 in Michigan and is on parole, according to the affidavit.
Sheriff Tharp said with information about Ellis’ whereabouts can call 911 or the non-emergency number, 419-243-5111.
Reward money is available for tips leading to Ellis' successful arrest and prosecution.
Contact Kate Snyder at ksnyder@theblade.com, 419-724-6282 or on Twitter @KL_Snyder
First Published August 16, 2018, 3:37 p.m.
