Milwaukee Man Charged in Wauwatosa Bank Robbery A 33-year-old Milwaukee man has been criminally charged in connection to a bank robbery that occurred in Wauwatosa on August 15. Ryan Ashford, the suspect, faces one count of robbery of a financial institution. According to court filings, Ashford admitted to planning the crime to pay his debts, aiming to steal $40,000 before fleeing the country. The robbery took place at the PNC Bank located at 124th and North around 1 p.m. Wauwatosa police responded to the scene after a bank employee reported a robbery. The suspect, wearing a mask, entered the bank and ordered all occupants to the floor before lining them up against the wall. He then demanded cash from the teller, instructing her to withdraw $400,000. As the teller began preparing the money, Ashford grew impatient, walked behind the counter, and told her, “Give me everything you have.” Despite the suspect’s threats, the employee activated an alarm, which alerted authorities. Surveillance footage revealed Ashford arrived at the bank in a gray 2024 Mazda CX-5 shortly before the robbery. He was dressed in all black and wore a mask, with the vehicle’s license plate clearly visible. A citizen witness later identified the car as belonging to Ashford, stating he had rented it through the Turo app. Investigators used this information to track down Ashford’s address and executed a search warrant on August 18. During the search, police recovered several items, including three handwritten drafts of robbery notes written in blue ink, a “Mission Checklist” detailing steps for a Chicago bank robbery, and other materials linked to the crime. Among the seized items were black shoes, a black mask, a black duffel bag, red gloves, a torn $100 currency band, and multiple credit and debit cards in Ashford’s name.#milwaukee #wauwatosa #ryan_ashford #pnc_bank #turo_app
Milwaukee Could Face Up to 12 Inches of Snow This Weekend A significant winter storm is expected to impact central and southern Wisconsin this weekend, with forecasts suggesting Milwaukee could receive at least 6 inches of snow, while some areas might see accumulations exceeding a foot, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Michaela Heeren warned that the storm, which follows a brief period of unusually warm weather, could bring one of the most severe snow events of the season. The storm is anticipated to begin around 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, with snowfall continuing through Sunday and tapering off by Monday morning, March 16. Heeren noted that the heaviest snowfall is likely to occur on Sunday, though the exact areas most affected remain uncertain. Central Wisconsin is currently projected to see the largest snow accumulations, potentially reaching up to 12 to 18 inches, depending on the storm’s path. While Green Bay could be hit harder than Milwaukee, the latter might experience more sleet and freezing rain rather than heavy snow. Southeast Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, could still see around 6 inches of snow on the storm’s “back side,” Heeren said. However, if the heaviest snow band directly targets the region, snowfall could reach 12 to 18 inches. She emphasized that the storm’s intensity makes it possible for Milwaukee to face one of the season’s most significant snowfalls. Leading up to the storm, Milwaukee will experience sunny skies and light winds on Thursday, March 12. Light rain is expected to move through the area between Thursday evening and Friday morning, March 13. This rain could transition into brief snow showers on Friday, though less than an inch of accumulation is anticipated.#national_weather_service #michaela_heeren #milwaukee #green_bay #511wi_gov
