Woman Charged for Hatchet Bank Robbery, Assault in Southfield

Blake Herring, a 22-year-old woman from Dearborn Heights, was charged with bank robbery and assault with intent to murder after robbing a PNC Bank in Southfield, Michigan, while armed with a hatchet and a handgun. Surveillance footage showed Herring purchasing the hatchet at a nearby Meijer store hours before the robbery and practicing swinging it in the parking lot. She hesitated outside the bank for about 30 minutes before entering, demanding money, and striking an employee in the head with the hatchet. Police initially arrested a 55-year-old man in connection with a separate hatchet-related assault nearby, but later confirmed the two crimes were unrelated. Authorities recovered approximately $2,500 in cash from Herring's home and vehicle, and the victim is now recovering at home after several days in the hospital. Herring's bond was set at $2 million, and Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren emphasized the distinction between the two separate incidents.