Community Corner

UPDATED: Arrest Made in Attempted Bank Robberies

A man allegedly threatened to blow up the bank Tuesday afternoon during the bank robbery, according to police.

Hamden Police arrested a man Tuesday afternoon who allegedly attempted to rob two Dixwell Avenue banks by claiming to have a bomb.
The man also is connected to a similar incident in New Haven, according to reports.
About 2:30 p.m. Hamden police got reports of an attempted robbery at First Niagara Bank on Dixwell Avenue, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith. A man claimed to have a bomb while trying to rob the banks, he said.

According to Smith, "Raymond first entered First Niagra Bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. Furthermore, the note indicated that he was in the possession of a bomb. The teller subsequently gave Raymond an undisclosed amount of money.   

"Further investigation revealed that Raymond then walked to the nearby Webster Bank and again gave a bank employee a note demanding money. The second note also had information insinuating that he was in the possession of a bomb. The teller provided Raymond with an undisclosed amount of money. As Raymond exited Webster Bank, the dye pack exploded and he was arrested."

One Hamden officer arrived when the dye pack exploded, Smith said.

"While en route, Officer Stephen Baris observed an individual near Webster Bank, located at 5 Helen Street. The individual was surrounded by a large cloud of smoke, which originated from a dye pack," Smith said in a release Tuesday night. Baris arrested the man, identified as Robert Raymond, 67, of 109 Augur Street, Hamden, Smith said.   

"While searching Raymond, he advised officers that he planted a “fake bomb” in front of the Federal Courthouse in New Haven," Smith said, and another "suspicious package" was found near where Raymond was taken into custody.

Both the FBI and the New Haven Police Department's Bomb Squad were called to the scenes in both Hamden and New Haven. It detonated the package, Smith said, and prior to that "officers cordoned off the area and evacuated dozens of people who were inside of several surrounding buildings."  
A Branford hotel also was searched after officers learned that Raymond and his girlfriend might have been staying there, Smith said. Branford Police, Connecticut State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation evacuated and secured the American Best Value Inn, Smith said, but there was no bomb making material or explosives found.  
Raymond was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree larceny and two counts of first-degree breach of peace. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Wednesday.                   


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