Local News
CRIME: Town man charged in Falls bank heist
Falls Police have charged a Town of Tonawanda man in the hold-up of the M & T Bank branch in the 800 block of Military Road last Wednesday.
Jason S. Simmons, 27, 2354 Parker Blvd., was charged with third-degree robbery and third-degree grand larceny. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during a City Court arraignment on Monday.
Simmons was jailed in lieu of bail of $10,000 cash or $20,000 property and is due back in court June 3 with an attorney.
Investigators said they were led to Simmons by physical evidence he left at the bank. That evidence was a fingerprint on the note he handed to a teller and another one on an entrance door to the bank.
Simmons held the door open for another customer before he went into the bank. His note read, “Give me the money (expletive) or I will shot (sic) you. Now all of it.”
Witnesses said Simmons never displayed a weapon.
During questioning by detectives, Simmons adamantly denied that he had robbed the bank. He said he was working at the time of the hold-up.
“I’m 100 percent sure that I’m not that person,” Simmons told the detectives. “I don’t know how my fingerprints got on the note. I don’t know how.”
The fingerprints on the note and door matched Simmons’ prints in a state law enforcement database. Investigators said he was just recently released from prison after serving time for an armed robbery conviction.
Bank security cameras show a man wearing a black hat and sunglasses walking into the bank and then standing at the teller cage were the robbery occurred.
Confronted with the photos, Simmons continued to deny having ever been in the bank.
“I’m 100 percent sure that is not me,” Simmons said. “I know that is not me. I look different.”
The arrest is the second in three bank robberies that occurred during a nine-day period from April 29 to May 8.
In the first robbery, a lone bandit held up the First Niagara Bank branch in the 7300 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard.
A short time later, John J. Maglio, 22, 3131 Bellreng Drive, turned himself in to Town of Niagara Police. He’s been charged with third-degree robbery and third-degree grand larceny and is awaiting further court proceedings.
Investigators are still seeking the man who robbed the M & T Bank branch in the 700 block of Main Street on Friday.
That suspect was described as a black male, 5 feet 5 inches tall, about 145 pounds, with a short beard and mustache. He was wearing sunglasses, a black broad-brimmed baseball hat with a white spider design on the front right side and a black hoodie with a large white design — possibly a phoenix or a dragon — on the front.
Anyone who may have information on that robbery is asked to contact Falls Police at 286-4553.
Contact reporter Rick Pfeiffer at 282-2311, ext. 2252.
- Local News
-
-
Person of interest sought
Tonawanda police want to question man following carjacking.
-
Driver ticketed in motorcycle crash
Man flew over handlebars upon impact.
-
Prison for former Falls mayor
Anello guilty of defrauding union pension fund, will have public corruption charges dismissed
-
One hurt in crash
Traffic was diverted at the intersection of Payne Avenue and Ward Road for about half an hour Thursday after a two-car accident at 7:11 p.m. sent one woman to DeGraff Hospital.
-
Wheatfield audit blasts officials
Inadequate oversight led to deficit situation and taxpayer-funded cell phones.
-
'Shear' standstill in Wheatfield
Driver uninjured, charged following accident that shut down boulevard for hours.
-
Herbs for life
Kenmore Mercy uses grant to start sustainable rooftop garden.
-
New device helps track texts and driving
New smartphone app creators hope to curb texting while driving.
-
Paladino's a confident man
Gubernatorial candidate speaks at chamber breakfast, shows little concern for opponents
-
Man in Tuesday crash said foot was stuck
No injuries reported in two unrelated city mishaps.
- More Local News Headlines
-
