From the article:

But when he tried to open a savings account for the money at the Livonia branch, staff said they would need to verify the cheques. The assistant bank manager - herself a black woman - went to a backroom, before returning and telling Mr Thomas their team member who verifies cheques was not there. She allegedly asked him how he got the money.

Ten minutes later - after Mr Thomas said he would wait in the lobby for the staff member to return - four police officers arrived.

I’m taking bets the asst. bank manager was told she had to ask by someone else behind the scenes. Then that someone called the cops.

WTH is a beat cop going to do though? How would they know if the check is legit or not? They should have deposited it and waited to see if the funds came in.