CU Member Tackles Armed Woman Who Was Trying to Rob Branch

Police officers would never advise anyone to tackle an armed suspect while robbing a branch.

But it was one of those very rare events that happened earlier this month at the Burlington, N.C., branch of the $2.7 billion Truliant Credit Union. Fortunately, no one was injured.

On Jan. 11, Alicia Lynn Rickman, 29, of Snow Camp, walked into the branch holding a rifle, fired a shot into the ceiling and shouted at employees and members.

Rickman then walked to the front of the teller area where she was suddenly tackled by a male member not identified by Burlington Police Department investigators

After she was subdued, other members helped confine Rickman until police arrived and took her into custody.

Although no one was harmed, it is clearly not the “best of ideas” to tackle an armed suspect for obvious safety reasons, Sgt. Michael Grusky of the BPD’s criminal investigations division said.

Rickman was charged with attempted armed robbery with a dangerous weapon and first degree kidnapping because she allegedly used a weapon that held people in the branch against their will, Sgt. Grusky explained.

Rickman is being held under a $250,000 bond at the Alamance County Jail, where she is awaiting her next court hearing.

Truliant declined to comment.

In a separate credit union case, the Winnebago County State Attorney’s office in Rockford, Ill., said last week more charges were filed against 38-year-old Nicholas August.

August allegedly sexually assaulted a female employee in the Rockford branch of the $389 million Heritage Credit Union during a six-and-a-half hour standoff with police on Jan. 3.

State prosecutors charged August with nine counts of sexual assault, four counts of aggravated battery and three counts of burglary. In addition to these charges, he also was initially charged with armed robbery, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated unlawful restraint.

He is being held at the Winnebago County Jail on a $245,000 bond.