Robert T. Porter IV, 45, of Struthers Road in New Middletown, was arraigned Friday in federal court, Akron, on a robbery charge, accused of robbing the Premier Bank branch at 4259 Kirk Road on Feb. 26.

Porter pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke, who ordered that Porter remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is being housed in the Mahoning County jail.

Austintown police said Porter robbed the bank by passing a note to a teller that read, “This is a robbery,” to which the teller replied: “No way,” according to a police report.

He replied, “Yes hurry,” and the teller opened the drawer, took out about $5,000 and handed it over. He fled in a gray Pontiac.

While at the bank, officers learned that a Pontiac matching the description of the one Porter used was reported stolen from Boardman about 2 p.m. the same day, a police report states.

Police then learned Youngstown police were responding to a vehicle fire in the 3300 block of Loveland Avenue that also matched the vehicle’s description.

On the way to the fire, officers found a man walking on Midlothian Boulevard who matched the robber’s description and was identified as Porter. He was arrested by Austintown police and was taken to the county jail.

When officers arrived at the burning vehicle, the license plates matched the stolen vehicle, the report states.