Two suspects in bank robbery

NEW HARTFORD — It took less than a week for Connecticut State Police to identify two suspects in an Oct. 10 robbery at Northwest Community Bank.

Evidence, interviews with people in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont and tips from the public led Western District Major Crime Squad detectives to Daryl Williams, 49, and Andrew Dion, 41, both of Springfield, Mass.

Williams was in custody of Springfield Police Oct. 15 when Connecticut detectives interviewed him. According to a statement issued by Lt. J. Paul Vance, Williams “provided information about his involvement in the robbery and identified the second suspect involved.�

Both are also now suspects in a Vermont bank robbery.

The men are accused of robbing the Northwest Community Bank in the Foothills Plaza on Route 44 in New Hartford. A surveillance video shows a man matching William’s description entering the bank at about 10:40 a.m.

He handed a teller a note implying he had a gun and demanded cash. No gun was ever seen. The robber left the bank through a rear door and got into a car allegedly driven by Dion. The car was driven east on Route 44. The amount of cash taken was not released.

Both suspects waived extradition and were taken into custody by Connecticut State Police on Oct. 23 in Springfield, where they were being held as fugitives from justice.

Williams was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny. Dion was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny and theft of a registration plate.

Both were held on $500,000 bond. Williams was arraigned in Bantam Superior Court that day. Dion was arraigned Oct. 26. There cases were transferred to Litchfield Superior Court, where they are expected to enter pleas on Nov. 3 and Nov. 10.

The court clerk explained that co-defendants in a criminal case such as this would be separated for court dates.

Residents can anonymously text a crime tip to the state police via their cell phone or other mobile device. To pass along information, text “TIP711� plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

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