LOCKPORT – Lockport police have arrested a man they believe drove alleged bank robber Joseph S. Trusello back to Niagara Falls after robbing an M&T Bank branch Friday.
James M. Williams, 30, of Tudor Lane, Lockport, was arrested in Niagara Falls at 5:40 p.m. Monday and charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Police said he was apprehended when his car was stopped in traffic on Niagara Falls Boulevard near the on-ramp to the Niagara Thruway in the Falls.
The arrest of Williams came after the questioning of Trusello, 23, who was picked up at his residence in a halfway house on Memorial Parkway in the Falls about 3 a.m. Monday.
Detective Captain Richard L. Podgers said “more than $1,000” was recovered in the arrest of Trusello, who has confessed to the robbery. He declined to disclose the amount M&T Bank said was stolen.
He said Trusello fled the scene in a white Cadillac parked near the bank that allegedly was driven by Williams.
Federal parole officers assisted with the investigation of Williams, who was on parole after a federal conviction for narcotics sales, Podgers said.
Trusello shoved a holdup note across the counter at a bank teller at 10:56 a.m. Friday, according to the time on photos of the suspect from a bank security camera. No weapon was used in the holdup.
The photos led to numerous tips from the public that resulted in the arrest of Trusello, who was charged with third-degree robbery and third-degree grand larceny.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com
James M. Williams, 30, of Tudor Lane, Lockport, was arrested in Niagara Falls at 5:40 p.m. Monday and charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Police said he was apprehended when his car was stopped in traffic on Niagara Falls Boulevard near the on-ramp to the Niagara Thruway in the Falls.
The arrest of Williams came after the questioning of Trusello, 23, who was picked up at his residence in a halfway house on Memorial Parkway in the Falls about 3 a.m. Monday.
Detective Captain Richard L. Podgers said “more than $1,000” was recovered in the arrest of Trusello, who has confessed to the robbery. He declined to disclose the amount M&T Bank said was stolen.
He said Trusello fled the scene in a white Cadillac parked near the bank that allegedly was driven by Williams.
Federal parole officers assisted with the investigation of Williams, who was on parole after a federal conviction for narcotics sales, Podgers said.
Trusello shoved a holdup note across the counter at a bank teller at 10:56 a.m. Friday, according to the time on photos of the suspect from a bank security camera. No weapon was used in the holdup.
The photos led to numerous tips from the public that resulted in the arrest of Trusello, who was charged with third-degree robbery and third-degree grand larceny.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com