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Man charged with robbing bank after changing his mind

GASTONIA, N.C. — A 20-year-old man remains behind bars facing felony charges for allegedly attempting to rob a bank, then changing his mind.

Gastonia police said Jorge Ortiz Zarco walked into the Bank of America on New Hope Road Tuesday morning and tried to close his account.

When the teller couldn't give him all his money, police said, he handed her a note that said he needed to pay a ransom for his children, who had been kidnapped.

Police said the teller handed him some cash, but Zarco gave it back to her and walked out of the bank empty-handed.

His wife sat in court Wednesday during a bond hearing. She said Zarco had recently lost his job, and she never expected him to do something like this.

"We're all here for him, wondering why he couldn't be honest and talk to us," said Guadalupe Tomala.

Franklin Clark was inside the bank Tuesday when all this happened.

"I think desperation pushes people to do things that are the extreme," said Clark.

Zarco remains behind bars on $150,000 bond.

He's due back in court next month.

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