Groton

2 in Custody After Bank Robbery in Groton

Two people face charges after a bank robbery at Navy Federal Credit Union in Groton Wednesday morning.

Groton Town Police responded to Navy Federal Credit Union at 24 Sailfish Drive at 9:37 a.m. to investigate after a man passed a note demanding money, left the bank with cash and fled in a vehicle, according to police.

Officers who approached the scene saw a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee leaving the area on Gungywamp Road and tried to stop it, but the driver fled and kept going south on Route 12, according to police.

The vehicle got off the highway at exit 83, continued onto Frontage Road in New London, turned on to Vauxhall Street Extension in Waterford and eventually onto Roseleah Drive, where the vehicle was abandoned, police said.

After running after the suspects, Groton officers took the driver into custody, but the passenger fled into a wooded area.

A Groton police K9 team tracked the second suspect and located him a short time later in heavy brush and thickets, police said.

The driver was identified as 35-year-old Javier Guzman. He was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit larceny, interfering with an officer, engaging officers in pursuit, and reckless driving. 

The passenger, identified as 50-year-old Javier Fontanez-Caldero, was charged with robbery, larceny, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit larceny, and interfering with an officer.

Each suspect was held on a $250,000 bond and are due in court Thursday. 

Police said they recovered money at the Roseleah Drive scene.

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