By Jim Clark

Police responded to a hold up alarm at Sovereign bank on Broadway Thursday afternoon.

A description of the robbery suspect was dispatched to units in the area. An officer arriving on the scene spotted a man matching the description while nearing Illinois Ave.

The suspect reportedly saw the police unit and began running down Broadway, dropping something to the ground as he fled, police said.

The officer caught up with the man and ordered him to place his hands on a wall. The man reportedly refused the order and began walking towards the officer. The man was once more ordered to face the wall and he then complied.

The man, Charles Ryan, 57, was then placed in a police cruiser. Money was recovered from the spot where it was reportedly dropped by Ryan.

The suspect reportedly said to the arresting officer that he was desperate, and turned over more cash.

Bank personnel were questioned and they reportedly said that Ryan went to a teller window and said, “give me all you have, and don’t do something stupid.”

Ryan was given $1500 in cash and left the bank, witnesses said. The hold up alarm was then triggered.

Ryan was placed under arrest and charged with unarmed robbery.