Medford, NY - February 12th, 2014 - Suffolk County Police today arrested a man that robbed two banks and attempted to rob four additional banks within a seven month span in Suffolk County.
Police Officers Greg Marino and Matthew Lundin of the Sixth Precinct Crime Section were on patrol when they observed a 1997 Plymouth driving recklessly south on Mill Road in Medford. The officers pulled the driver over on Mill Road and Granny Road and conducted a computer check which revealed that the vehicle was stolen. After arresting the driver, James Johnson, 44, the officers noticed that Johnson fit the description of a suspect who was wanted for a number of attempted robberies in Suffolk County.
Further investigations by Pattern Crime Unit detectives revealed that Johnson, of 18 Fife Drive, Coram, was responsible for the following:
- Robbing a Capitol One Bank in Center Moriches on August 9, 2013
- Robbing a Chase Bank in Bohemia on January 25, 2014
- Attempting to rob a Bank of America in Medford on February 5, 2014
- Attempting to rob a Chase bank in Medford on February 5, 2014
- Attempting to rob a Chase bank in Farmingville on February 11, 2014
- Attempting to rob a Capitol One bank in Brentwood today
During the first two robberies, Johnson passed a note to a teller demanding money and fled once the teller complied. In the last four instances, Johnson passed a note demanding money but left the bank without proceeds when the teller did not immediately comply with his demands.
Johnson was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 2nd Degree, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2nd Degree, Reckless Driving, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, two counts of Robbery 3rd Degree, and four counts of attempted Robbery 3rd Degree.
Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on February 13.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Incident: Bank Robber Arrested
Location: Mill Road and Granny Road, Medford
Date/Time: Wednesday, February 12, 2013 at 12:22 p.m.