Suspected Emmaus Bank Robber Recently Paroled for Another Bank Robbery

The man arrested for robbing the Santander Bank in Emmaus Thursday was paroled recently for a 2012 bank robbery, according to court records. 

Michael Todd Stilo, 26, was arraigned Thursday night by District Judge Robert Halal on charges he stole $1,873 from Santander Bank at 1215 Chestnut St. earlier in the day. He was sent to Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail. 

Court records say he was homeless.

According to the arrest affidavit:

—Stilo entered Santander Bank at 11:33 a.m., wearing all dark-colored clothes, large dark-colored sunglasses and a dark-colored mask. He had a hood over his head and a dark hat under the hood. 

—He approached a teller and handed her a plastic bag. Stilo ordered the teller to fill the bag with money and told her he would count down from 30 in his head. 

—As the teller placed the money in the bag, Stilo told her that she only had 10 seconds left. He then told her that her time was over and demanded the bag.

—The teller told police that she was afraid of what would happen to her when Stilo was done counting down.

Police said Stilo fled to the rear of the bank and left on foot, heading into the Meadows at Indian Creek Apartment complex, police say.

About 10 minutes later, at 11:43 a.m., Stilo was arrested near Cedar Crest Boulevard and Pine Street, police said. He had $1,873 in his pocket. 

Clothing, mask and sunglasses matching the description of what the man in the bank was wearing were found in the area in which Stilo fled, police said. 

According to online court records, he pleaded guilty to and Allentown bank robbery in July 2012 in a negotiated plea, and he was sentenced to 21 months to five years in jail. He also was ordered to pay $3,485 in restitution. He was granted parole, with a release set for Nov. 4, 2013, the records say. Lehighvalleylive.com said he was paroled this week.