Vernon police have arrested a son accused of robbing a bank on Friday and his father, who’s accused of driving the getaway car.
Police received a report of an armed robbery at the People’s United Bank inside the Stop and Shop Supermarket at 50 Windsorville Road at 5:37 p.m. on Friday.
The caller said a man entered the bank with a handgun, demanded money, ran off with the cash and got into a car waiting in front of the store.
A witness was able to provide police with the license plate number of the getaway vehicle, which police said was registered to Charles Wright, 69, of Vernon.
When police went to his Elm Street address, Jeffrey Wright, 45, of Rockville came out of the apartment and immediately shut the door after seeing police, according to a news release.
Then he opened the door and started walking away from the officer, but the officer approached him and began to ask questions.
Jeffrey Wright then ran and led police on a foot chase through Rockville, until he ducked into a local pharmacy.
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Inside, he confronted the store employees and demanded car keys, then punched an employee when no one turned over the keys, police said.
When he ran again, officers apprehended him.
Police said Jeffrey Wright had a significant amount of money on him, which was consistent with the amount stolen from the bank, police said.
A search of Jeffrey’s apartment revealed a loaded .380 handgun, along with clothing consistent with that worn by the robber, police said.
Officers also arrested Jeffrey’s father, Charles Wright, who is accused of driving the car from the scene of 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, appeared in Rockville Court on Monday and remains in custody on $250,000.
Charles Wright was charged with first-degree criminal liability robbery.
He posted a $5,000 bond and appeared in Rockville Superior Court on Monday.
They are both due back in court on July 10.
