By CHARIS ANDERSON
Standard-Times staff writer
September 21, 2007 6:00 AM
ACUSHNET — An alert Acushnet police officer nabbed a suspected bank robber Thursday afternoon after spotting the man's van parked on the side of the road, according to New Bedford police.
New Bedford police had broadcast the license plate and vehicle description over the radio Thursday morning immediately after arriving at the scene of the robbery, Sovereign Bank on Braley Road, according to Lt. Jeffrey Silva, a department spokesman.
After hearing the broadcast, Acushnet police Sgt. Christopher Richmond spotted a van that matched the description shortly after noon.
"I turned in and got behind the vehicle, hit my lights and siren," Sgt. Richmond said. "I could see his hands were pinkish-red, presumably from the dye pack."
Sgt. Richmond arrested the suspect, Able John Fernandes of Rochester, and New Bedford police then took Mr. Fernandes, 51, to police headquarters, according to Lt. Silva.
Mr. Fernandes allegedly walked into Sovereign Bank and handed the teller a note demanding money. Mr. Fernandes was holding a smoking pipe under his sweatshirt in such a way that it gave the impression he was armed, according to Lt. Silva.
Shortly after Mr. Fernandes left the bank, a dye pack included with the money exploded, covering him in red dye, Lt. Silva said.
All of the money stolen from the bank was recovered, said Lt. Silva.
Mr. Fernandes is being held at the Ash Street Jail in lieu $25,000 bail. He has no prior criminal record, according to Lt. Silva.
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops