A man from Newtown was arraigned in Danbury court Friday, accused of robbing a bank with a butcher knife.

According to police, John McCarthy walked into the Bank of America on Queen Street Thursday afternoon and approached the teller.

McCarthy allegedly handed her a note that said he would kill everyone if she didn't give him money.

Once she handed over the cash, he took off.

A quick call to 911 led cops to arrest McCarthy at a store across the street.

An employee of the store says McCarthy knocked on the back door of the store to get her attention.

“So he has a wad of cash in his hand. He has no teeth,” she says. “He's drunk because you could smell it, and he asks me for a ride."

Police say McCarthy was carrying a butcher knife and had more than $800 in cash on him.

In court, News 12 Connecticut learned McCarthy was just released from prison a few months ago after serving 37 years.

He's now being held on $250,000 bond and is on suicide watch after reportedly trying to kill himself four times in the past week.