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
