Oakland County Parolee Arrested Days After Release From Prison

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — An Oakland County parolee has been arrested after stealing over $1,300 from a credit union in the city of Pontiac, just days after being released from prison, county sheriff's office officials said Monday.

Joshua David Hawley, 40, of Pontiac, was recently arrested at an apartment complex in Oakland County after police identified him on surveillance video as the suspect in the Dec. 10 robbery at the Genisys Credit Union, 44400 Woodward Ave., police said.

Hawley was arraigned Saturday before 50th District Court Magistrate Robert Morad on one count of bank robbery, which police said carries a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. Hawley was denied bond, police said. Hawley's next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 22.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the Genisys Credit Union in Pontiac on Dec. 10 following the report of a bank robbery. When deputies arrived, they said the bank manager said a white man with face tattoos had shown a teller a note demanding money.

The suspect, who police said was later identified through credit union surveillance video, was handed $1,356 before fleeing the credit union and driving away in an older model Chevrolet Avalanche.

Police said they found Hawley's vehicle in the parking lot of a Pontiac apartment complex. Surveillance video at the complex showed him entering his apartment shortly after the heist, police said. Hawley was arrested without incident, and police said the note used in the robbery was found in his pocket.

Hawley confessed to the crime, according to police, adding that he owed his drug dealer money. Police said he told them the money, which was not recovered at his apartment, had already been given to his dealer to pay off his debt and to buy more drugs.

Oakland County authorities and Michigan Department of Corrections data said Hawley is on parole after being released from prison Dec. 1. Hawley has 14 prior felony convictions, including assault, police said.