Two men are in custody in connection with the alleged armed robbery of an armored car driver who was leaving a bank in Westport on Thursday, which led to a high-speed pursuit that ended when police were able to deflate the tires on the suspects’ vehicle.
Police responded to Wells Fargo Bank at 422 Post Road East when they received a 911 call at 12:33 p.m. reporting a robbery involving two men dressed in all black and wearing masks who had targeted the driver of an armored car as he was leaving the bank, according to Lt. Anthony Prezioso of the Westport Police Department.
Prezioso said police believe the suspects’ vehicle parked alongside the armored car while the two men waited for the driver to return with cash. One of the robbers allegedly pointed what the victim later described as a revolver style weapon at him while his accomplice took the victim to the ground and began wrestling for the bank bag.
The suspects allegedly took the bag as well as the victim’s firearm, keys, phone and a scanner, Prezioso said. A witness who saw the robbery unfolding began shouting for help, which Prezioso said apparently spooked the suspects before they dropped the bank bag and phone and fled.
The witness told police the men drove at him in what he said appeared to be an attempt to run him down, Prezioso said.
A number of officers converged on the area in search of the vehicle, which was spotted going very fast while heading south on Compo Road South, according to Prezioso. The driver then turned left onto Greens Farms Road where he allegedly ignored police who tried to pull the vehicle over, Prezioso said.
According to Prezioso, the driver then headed south on Hillspoint Road until he was back on Compo Road South. Officers at one point lost sight of the vehicle because of the “excessive speeds and reckless maneuvering,” Prezioso said.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of Greens Farms Road, police were able to deploy stop sticks, which slowed the vehicle down until officers could bring it to a stop on Greens Farms Road just east of the Hales Road overpass, according to Prezioso. One of the individuals tried to flee on foot and the other remained in the vehicle, Prezioso said.
Both men were apprehended quickly and were identified as 32-year-old Keith Greene of Waterbury and 33-year-old Davon Younger of Bridgeport.
Officers searched the vehicle and did not find any firearms or any items that were stolen from the victim, according to Prezioso. Believing that they were likely ditched during the pursuit, police began searching the area using K-9 units and assistance from multiple officers of area police departments.
The handgun that was stolen from the victim was found on Hillspoint Road near the intersection with Hales Road, Prezioso said. The victim’s keys were found not far away. The stolen scanner was found on Compo Road South.
As of late Thursday, police had not yet found the gun the suspects used, Prezioso said. The search in the area of the pursuit, which drew a large police presence, was expected to continue into the nighttime and morning hours until the gun could be found, Prezioso said.
Police are asking residents who may locate the firearm not to touch it and to contact the police department immediately at 203-341-6000. According to Prezioso, one of the suspects allegedly confessed to having a gun but claimed it was not a real firearm.
Greene was held on $500,000 and was expected to be arraigned on Friday in Stamford Superior Court.
He faces charges of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, theft of a firearm, conspiracy to commit theft of a firearm, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, illegal transfer of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence, interfering with an officer, second-degree assault with a firearm, conspiracy to commit second-degree assault with a firearm, first-degree threatening, criminal attempt to commit assault on a police officer, engaging police in pursuit, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of narcotics.
Younger was found to be out on parole and was remanded into custody by the Department of Correction, Prezioso said.
He faces charges of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, theft of a firearm, conspiracy to commit theft of a firearm, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, illegal transfer of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence, interfering with an officer, second-degree assault with a firearm, conspiracy to commit second-degree assault with a firearm and first-degree threatening.