WNDU - Michigan - Headlines  Suspect in bank robbery-turned bomb
scare says he didn't do it   The man accused of pulling off a
bank robbery turned bomb scare in downtown Niles says he did not
commit the crime.  According to the Niles Daily Star, Benton
Harbor resident Richard Smith, 44, pleaded not guilty in federal
court on Tuesday to a single count of bank robbery by force. The
next step of Smith’s judicial journey is a to-be-scheduled
pretrial conference.  The robbery Smith is accused of
perpetrating occurred in February at the Chemical Bank located
in the 400 block of East Main St. Investigators say he handed
the teller a note demanding money and threatening to blow up the
bank if police were called.  The robber also left behind a
suspicious bag, which police determined did not contain any
explosives. Rather, they say that a pair of boots was inside.
Smith allegedly got away with $1,800, and at this point in time,
police have not recovered the money.  Officials say Smith will
remain in prison until his t