Somerville Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested In Providence
SOMERVILLE (CBS) – The man wanted for a brazen armed robbery at a Somerville bank earlier this month is in custody after being arrested in Providence, Rhode Island Thursday morning.
The man identified by the U.S. Attorney as Daniel Rosado allegedly went into the Middlesex Federal Savings Bank in Davis Square on May 1, fired a shot into the ceiling, demanded money, and then exchanged gunfire with a Somerville police officer before getting away with $929, according to court documents.
Heavily-armed officers went door-to-door in their search and asked everyone to stay inside during the manhunt. No one was hurt in the robbery, but federal, state and local investigators have been looking for the man for more than three weeks.
"The press conference on that day and what we could be talking about today could have been a lot worse so a great sense of relief that a very dangerous person has been taken off the streets here and in the region," Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said.
Investigators won't say why Rosado allegedly chose the Somerville bank that day.
The FBI's Boston division tweeted that the arrest happened at 6:25 a.m. Thursday morning without incident. Rosado is a 32-year-old from Providence. He is charged with armed bank robbery, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He is being held without bail until a hearing next week.
"Today's arrest and charges put an end to a three week search for a dangerous and reckless individual," said U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling in a statement. "By not just brandishing, but actually discharging his weapon – twice – the alleged defendant instilled fear and endangered the lives of members of our community for his own greed and selfishness."
Good Samaritan Thankful Arrest Was Made
The FBI was offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. It's not clear yet if anyone will get that reward, but the agency is highlighting "the extraordinary courage" of Good Samaritan Dave Powers who shoved the suspect into some shrubs as he fled down a College Avenue sidewalk, causing him to drop his backpack. The robber got up and ran off just before the officer arrived, but left the backpack containing a gun behind.
The shove was captured on surveillance cameras by Jack Connolly's insurance company. "Here's the guy who made a quick reaction and made a courageous decision to slow the guy down," Connolly said.
Connolly said it's Dave Powers who should earn the FBI's reward money. "Without that information we may not be getting this good news today," Connolly said.
Powers says he's thankful police were able to capture Rosado. "I saw the officer was right there so I figured that was, I could kind of intervene and hopefully not put myself in too much risk and at least assist the officer," Powers said Thursday. "I was proud that my actions had a role in leading to the arrest that was nice to see."
Investigators at the State Police crime lab linked DNA samples found on the backpack's straps, zippers and buckles to Rosado, and his driver's license photo matched the footage of the robber on video surveillance.
Prosecutors say Rosado has a history of felony convictions, including larceny and witness intimidation. He was found guilty of assault by means of a dangerous weapon in 2012 out of New Bedford District Court.
A Tufts University student who was in Davis Square at the time of the robbery is happy they have someone in custody.
"I'm glad that they finally found him. I feel a little safer walking around," she said. "It was a little scary at the time knowing that he had shot at police."
