Man Charged In 2 Bank Robberies, 4 Attempts In Suffolk County
MILFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Wednesday arrested a man who allegedly robbed two banks, and tried to rob four more, within a period of seven months in Suffolk County.
Officers Greg Marino and Matthew Lundin of the Sixth Precinct Crime Section were on patrol Wednesday when they saw someone driving a 1997 Plymouth recklessly south on Mill Road in Milford. The officers pulled over the driver at Granny Road, and found out via a computer check that the vehicle was stolen, Suffolk County police said.
The driver -- James Johnson, 44 -- was arrested on the spot, police said. Officers quickly noticed that he fit the description of a serial bank robbery suspect.
Police later concluded that Johnson, of Coram, was responsible for the following:
• The robbery of a Capital One Bank in Center Moriches last Aug. 9;
• The robbery of a Chase Bank in Bohemia on Jan. 25;
• The attempted robbery of a Bank of America in Medford on Feb. 5;
• The attempted robbery of a Chase Bank in Farmingville on Feb. 5;
• The attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank in Brentwood on Wednesday.
In the first two robberies, Johnson allegedly passed a note to the teller demanding money and fled once the teller complied, police said. In the last four, he likewise passed notes, but left when the teller did not immediately comply, police said.
Johnson was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, robbery, and attempted robbery.
He was set to be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday.
Anyone with information about the incidents was asked to make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at (800) 220-TIPS.
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