Detroit Man Charged for $1,900 Bloomfield Township Bank Robbery

Suspect used phone message to demand cash before fleeing in a black van.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:51pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a bank teller's drawer with scattered bills and coins, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of a bank robbery.A recent bank robbery in Bloomfield Township exposes the risks and consequences of such crimes for financial institutions and their employees.Today in Detroit

A 51-year-old Detroit man has been charged with robbing a Bloomfield Township bank earlier this month, using a phone message to demand money from an employee before driving off with around $1,900 in cash. The suspect, Deshawn Steven Johnson, was identified and arrested after a multi-agency investigation involving security camera footage and license plate readers.

Why it matters

Bank robberies are serious crimes that can endanger employees and customers, and this case highlights the importance of law enforcement cooperation and the use of technology like security cameras and license plate readers to track down suspects.

The details

On April 1, the Bloomfield Township Police Department responded to an alarm at the Mi Bank on West Maple Street. The robber showed an employee a message on his phone stating this was a robbery and demanded cash. He then fled the scene in a black van. Police worked with the Troy Special Investigations Unit and Southfield Tactical Crime Suppression Unit to identify the van and locate the suspect, Deshawn Steven Johnson, in Southfield on April 3.

  • The robbery was reported via an alarm about 2 p.m. on April 1.
  • Johnson was arraigned via video conference on Monday, April 10.
  • A probable cause conference is scheduled for April 16, and a preliminary exam is set for April 23.

The players

Deshawn Steven Johnson

A 51-year-old Detroit resident who has been charged with robbing a Bloomfield Township bank of $1,900.

Karen D. McDonald

The Oakland County Prosecutor who said this case sends a message that law enforcement will hold bank robbers accountable.

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What they’re saying

“Bank robberies endanger employees and customers. This case sends a message to would-be robbers: Oakland County law enforcement will track you down, and we will hold you accountable.”

— Karen D. McDonald, Oakland County Prosecutor

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on April 16 whether to allow Deshawn Steven Johnson out on bail before his preliminary exam on April 23.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of law enforcement cooperation and the use of technology like security cameras and license plate readers in tracking down and apprehending bank robbery suspects to protect public safety.