ROCKFORD, IL. (THECOUNT) — Nicholas August, the suspect accused in an armed robbery and resulting hostage situation at the Heritage Credit Union Friday, reportedly sexually assaulted a female employee during the hours-long barricade situation.
August, 39, held the woman hostage for nearly seven hours Friday inside the financial institution.
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The suspect is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault as well as armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint, according to a statement from Rockford police.
Authorities were called about 2:30 p.m. for reports of an armed robbery in progress at the Heritage Credit Union, 5959 E. State St. in Rockford, police said. Investigators learned August entered the bank, took an employee hostage and ordered the rest of the employees out of the building. A SWAT team surrounded the building and negotiated with August until he came out with the woman about 9 p.m., police said. He had “a pellet gun that resembled a real firearm” on him when he was taken into custody, reports NBCChicago.
The victim was transported to an area hospital for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.
The woman told police detectives and FBI agents that August had sexually assaulted her during the standoff.
August, who lives in Rockford, was taken to the Winnebago County Jail, where he is being held on $2 million bail, police said. He was also wanted on warrants for domestic battery and probation violation.
He was booked into the jail at 2:19 a.m. Saturday and is awaiting an arraignment hearing, according to Winnebago County sheriff’s office inmate records.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: Rockford is a city in northern Illinois. Downtown, the Burpee Museum of Natural History features a dinosaur exhibit. Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum offers rotating exhibits in a Victorian home. Rockford Art Museum exhibits regional American works. The sprawling Anderson Japanese Gardens is across the Rock River. Northeast, Rock Cut State Park shelters muskrats, raccoons and waterfowl – wikipedia.