Man attempted to rob three banks armed with a toilet plunger

A Utica man faces felony charges after police say he attempted to rob three different banks armed with a toilet plunger. Surveillance photos captured the suspect entering the Key Bank on Genesee Street on Thursday afternoon.

At around 1:30p.m., Utica Police responded to the Key Bank for a report of an attempted robbery. Officers also were contacted by two other banks that said the man had also entered there and demanded money.



Bank employees say he came in started yelling obscenities, asking them to put money in a bag. Police say he threatened the tellers with the plunger. Officers in an unmarked car responded to the scene and saw the suspect walking away.

When the suspect saw the officers, he ran. Police caught up with him and took him into custody. Lawrence Deptola, 49, of Cottage Place in Utica is charged with attempted robbery, a class "E" felony. The plunger was recovered inside Citizen's Bank.