MASSENA, New York (WWNY) – A suspect is in custody in connection with a Massena bank robbery, which prompted lockouts at several area schools.
Village police said the robbery happened Monday morning at Massena Savings & Loan on Main Street.
According to police, they apprehended the suspect about two blocks away from the bank.
They identified him as 33-year-old Jeffery Howell of Florida.
He’s charged with:
- first-degree robbery
- second-degree robbery
- third-degree robbery
- second-degree grand larceny
- third-degree grand larceny
Howell was arraigned in Massena Village Court and sent to the county jail.
No other information was released. There’s no word on whether a weapon was displayed or what was taken during the robbery.
According to people who live near the bank, the suspect fled from the bank into backyards in their neighborhood.
Mike Kelso was in his Garvin Avenue house and heard commotion.
“I kept hearing yelling and then I looked out my window and saw somebody run down my driveway. And then, shortly after, another gentleman running behind him,” he said.
It was captured on a surveillance camera. The video shows a man in a black hooded jacket fleeing a well-dressed pursuer. (Read more below this picture)
Kelso said he went out to see if he could be of help. The pursuer told him to call police.
“I’m not going to question him. He’s chasing somebody. Something’s happening. Just call the police and go from there,” said Kelso.
From what he heard when he called police, he sort of got the picture: a bank robbery.
Massena Central School District Superintendent Patrick Brady said St. Lawrence County 911 dispatchers alerted the district about the robbery shortly after 10 a.m. and that the suspect reportedly fled toward Trinity Catholic School, which is across the street from J.W. Leary Junior High School.
According to Brady, dispatchers said the suspect was possibly looking to steal a car.
Brady said all five schools in the district went into lockout, which means no one can go in or out of the buildings, but classes inside continue as usual.
He said the lockout was lifted less than 10 minutes later.
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