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Suspect in bank robbery arrested
By Ashley luthern
BOARDMAN
Police arrested a 39-year-old township man Friday afternoon on charges of robbing a bank last week.
Brandon Schmitt is accused of taking more than $5,000 from First National Bank at 7025 Market St. on Jan. 13. The bank is just north of U.S. Route 224.
A warrant for Schmitt was signed Thursday, and U.S. Marshals arrested him Friday at a motel in Moon Township, Pa., said Detective Sgt. Michael Hughes of Boardman police.
On Jan. 13, a man wearing a black ski mask walked into the bank, declared he had a weapon and demanded cash, according to reports.
Police said an initial search turned up footprints, but the trail ended behind the rear lot of 11 Woodview Ave. It was later determined that the man did not have a weapon, so the charge was reduced from aggravated robbery to robbery.
Schmitt was taken to Allegheny County (Pa.) Jail and will have an extradition hearing soon, Hughes said. After that hearing, Schmitt will appear in Mahoning County Area Court in Boardman.
Although Schmitt had addresses throughout Ohio and in Florida, his last known address was listed as the Wagon Wheel Motel, located next to the bank he is accused of robbing, Hughes said.
“Police came up with Schmitt as suspect after canvassing the area and checking leads referring to him as meeting the suspect’s description,” he said.
Hughes said he hopes that the $5,696 that Schmitt is accused of taking will be recovered. Police were in the process of searching the motel room in Moon Township late Friday.
“Everybody worked together, and it was the teamwork that led to the resolution,” Hughes said.
The FBI assisted the day of the robbery, Boardman police handled the investigation and the U.S. Marshals located Schmitt, he added.
Boardman Detective Sgt. Glen Riddle had said previously that bank robberies are uncommon in the township. The last one occurred at least two years ago.