Vernon Police Arrest Father and Son Following Armed Bank Robbery

Editor’s note: We published this story earlier in the week, but here it is again in case you missed it.

The Vernon Police Department has arrested a father and son following an armed bank robbery.

On June 26 at approximately 5:37 p.m., Vernon Police received an emergency call reporting an armed robbery of the People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop Supermarket at 50 Windsorville Rd. The caller said that a lone black male entered the bank with a handgun and demanded money.

The robber fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and got into a vehicle that was waiting in front of the store. Police immediately responded and located a witness who was able to give them the license plate of the vehicle that the robber used to flee. This vehicle was registered to Charles Wright, 69, of Vernon.

Officers went to the Elm Street address that was listed for the vehicle and as they pulled up, a male, later identified as Jeffrey Wright, 45, of 28 Elm St. in Rockville, came out of the apartment. Jeffrey Wright saw the officer and immediately shut the door. He then opened the door and started walking away from the officer.

The officer approached him and began to ask him some questions. Jeffrey Wright then started to run and lead police on a foot chase through Rockville. He got away from the officers briefly and ran to a local pharmacy where he went inside and confronted the store employees. He demanded car keys from the employees and when they did not turn over the keys, he punched one of the employees.

Jeffrey Wright then fled the pharmacy on foot and was apprehended by officers. He was found to be in possession of a large amount of money, consistent with the amount that had just been stolen from the bank.

Officers did a search warrant for Jeffrey Wright’s apartment. Inside they located a loaded .380 handgun along with clothing consistent with that worn by the robber.

Through investigation, officers also arrested Jeffrey’s father, Charles, for serving as the driver following the robbery.

Jeffrey Wright was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree larceny, two counts of second-degree threatening, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, interfering with police, and third-degree assault. He was held over the weekend on a $500,000 bond and was presented in Rockville Superior Court on Monday.

Charles Wright was charged with first-degree criminal liability robbery. He posted a $5,000 bond and appeared in Rockville Superior Court on Monday.

Jeffrey Wright and Charles Wright. Photos courtesy of the Vernon Police Department.