Farmington Hills Police Arrest Bank Robbery Suspects

announced this afternoon that two suspects have been arrested in connection with four bank robberies in Farmington Hills, Farmington, Livonia and Novi. 

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Chief Chuck Nebus said Arthur Duane Payton, 44, of Detroit, and Nancy Marie Barta, 33, of Westland, were arraigned Dec. 16 in U.S. District Court in Detroit. 

According to the statement, the two face charges in connection with a bank robbery that took place on Nov. 9, 2011 at Citizens Bank, 31215 14 Mile in Farmington Hills. A woman entered the bank just before 5 p.m. and presented the teller with a note announcing a robbery. The note indicated that the suspect had a weapon. The woman took an undetermined amount of money, then left the bank on foot.

On Oct. 17, a woman entered  in Farmington around 3 p.m. and approached a bank teller, demanding money and implying that she was armed. According to a press release issued that day by , the woman left on foot after getting an undisclosed amount of money. 

Similar incidents were reported on Oct. 20 at a Bank of America in Livonia and Oct. 28 at Flagstar Bank in Novi.

Investigators from the Farmington Hills Police Department, Farmington Public Safety Department, Livonia Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation coordinated their efforts to solve the robberies.