Police Identify Medford Bank Robbery Suspect

Medford Police have identified the suspect in Wednesday afternoon's robbery at the East Cambridge Savings Bank on Salem Street as Robert Cornejo, 26, of Russell Street in Malden.

Police said Cornejo has been charged with armed robbery while masked and faces arraignment today in Somerville District Court.

Cornejo is alleged to have entered the bank at 243 Salem St. shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday wearing a ski mask and passed a note to a teller saying he had a gun and demanded money.

Police said a dye pack exploded in a bag with money given to Cornejo. After a description of a gray Volkswagen as a getaway vehicle was circulated to local law enforcement, a similar vehicle driven by a female was stopped in Chelsea.

The driver was interviewed by Massachusetts State Police after it was determined that was indeed the vehicle involved.

Based on the woman's interview, Malden Police, State Troopers and the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force then went to Cornejo's Russell Street home and arrested him without incident.

On Thursday, Medford Police Capt. Kevin Faller said Cornejo made "incriminating statements" about the robbery before and after his arrest.

Faller said it doesn't appear at this time the woman stopped in Chelsea, who is Cornejo's girlfriend, was involved in the robbery.

However, state police charged the woman, Esmirna Palencia, 29, of Chelsea, with unlicensed operation after she was stopped.

Faller said Palencia was booked and processed at the Malden State Police Barracks.