Armed Robbery Suspect Caught Minutes After

Case Number  17-00016366

News Release Narrative:

At 2:38 pm the Newtown Police Department received a telephone call from the Bank of America Security Department and a 911 call from the Bank of America Branch located at 6 Queen Street stating that a bank robbery had just occurred. 

The 911 caller provided a description of the suspect and informed the 911 operator that the suspect had given a teller a note stating that the suspect had a gun and if they called the police he would kill everyone in the bank.  The 911 caller was able to inform the Newtown Emergency Communication Center Operator that the suspect had fled on foot in the direction of the Newtown Color Center (5 Queen St).

Officers were immediately dispatched and located John McCarthy (DOB 7/28/1954 of 28 Bonnie Brae Dr. Newtown, CT) behind the Newtown Color Center.  McCarthy matched the description provided by the 911 caller and the Newtown Color Center is immediately across Queen Street from the Bank of America.  McCarthy was detained by Officer Figol briefly until on duty personnel arrived. 

McCarthy was found to be armed with large butcher type kitchen knife and in possession of $833.

After a brief investigation which included a photographic identification of McCarthy by Bank of America employees and an audit of the bank teller’s tray indicating that the suspect had left with $833 from Bank of America, John McCarthy was placed under arrest for Robbery 1^st Degree 53a-134, Threatening 2^nd Degree 53a-62, Carrying of Dangerous Weapon 53-206, and Larceny 5^th Degree 53a-125a.

McCarthy was held on a $100,000 bond and will be arraigned at Danbury Superior Court on 8/25/2017.