JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A hearing was held here yesterday to determine a suspect’s competence to stand trial for kidnapping and armed robbery of a credit union in 2016.
As CUToday.info reported here, Nicholas Humphrey was arrested for 13 counts of kidnapping in addition to armed robbery at a branch of Community First Credit Union on Edgewood Ave. in Jacksonville.
During a 2017 competency review hearing a judge ruled that Humphrey was not competent for prosecution, and both sides agreed. Humphrey is being held at the state hospital in Baker County. The document said the court received a report from the Florida Department of Children and Families saying Humphrey still met the criteria for involuntary hospitalization.
Yesterday’s hearing was to decide if Humphrey's status has changed and he can now be prosecuted in the holdup.
Suspect Brought Dog, Dog Food
According to police and surveillance video, Humphrey entered the branch with a gun, a dog on a leash and a pail of dog food. He allegedly fired one shot into the ceiling before taking the 13 hostages, seven of whom were employees of the credit union. The hostages were freed by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office SWAT team made entry and later made an arrest.
The credit union’s CEO, John Hirabayashi, later shared with CUToday.info advice for other credit unions offering lessons learned during the incident. That report can be found here.