After Standoff at West Roxbury Credit Union, Would-Be Bank Robber Arrested

WEST ROXBURY, MA — Boston Police say officers caught a masked man who tried to rob a West Roxbury credit union Wednesday afternoon.

The attempted robbery took place just before 4 p.m. at the City of Boston Credit Union on Spring Street, near Catholic Memorial High School.

According to police, the robber entered the bank wearing a mask on his face and carrying a bag, only to see a Boston Police officer working a paid detail for the credit union. According to police, the officer on-scene ordered the would-be robber to take off his mask. He told her, "Give me your gun." She declined, and again asked him to take off the mask, police said.

"After a brief standoff, not knowing if a weapon was inside the bag, the officer ripped it out of the suspect’s hand at which time he fled on foot out of the bank," police said.

The officer reportedly followed the suspect, who jumped into a car. She was on radio during the pursuit, and was later picked up by a Boston Police Captain. According to police, "The officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle a short time later in the area of Baker Street near Spring Street. As the officers approached the suspect vehicle, he immediately opened the driver’s side door and put his hands in the air at which time he was taken into custody without further incident."

Police later identified the suspect as Richard Cassano, 51, of Dorchester.

It turns out that in addition to attempted bank robbery, Cassano did not have a valid driver's license and was driving a stolen car, according to police.

He will appear in West Roxbury District Court on charges of Attempt to Commit a Crime, Attempted Robbery, Receiving Stolen Property and Operating without a License.

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