Illinois bank robbery suspect charged with sexual assault of hostage

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WGN) -- A man accused of holding an employee hostage at a Rockford bank Friday has been charged with sexual assault and armed robbery.

Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea said police were called at 2:30 p.m. about a male suspect inside a Heritage Credit Union with a gun and demanded that everyone leave.

FBI and police SWAT negotiators were able to get the man, now identified as 38-year-old Nicholas August, to surrender peacefully around 9 p.m. O'Shea said he was holding a woman, who was an employee at the bank, hostage.

After the situation ended Friday night, the woman walked out of the bank with August. She was taken to the hospital for evaluation which is when police said they learned of the sexual assault.

On Saturday, August was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon, armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint.