Valentine's Day Bank Robbery in East Lyme Results in Arrest

At approximately 9:10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, a man walked into Citizen’s Bank, #15 Chesterfield Rd. #1 in Flanders Plaza and allegedly robbed the bank at gunpoint.

The man rushed to the counter and yelled orders at employees and bank customers, according to Connecticut State Police’s Eastern District Major Crime Squad, Troop E.

“The suspect was aggressive and threatening during this robbery,” police said. “He fled the scene with a large sum of money and was suspected of being picked up by a vehicle shortly after the robbery.”

Due to the violent nature of this crime and the impact it had on the community, law enforcement worked diligently in cooperation to identify and secure and arrest warrant, according to a press release from CT State Police.

Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Troop E Detectives were able to identify the suspect as Shawn Twomey, 41, of Summit St., Norwich, in less than a 24-hour period. An arrest warrant was immediately secured for him and an intensive search for his whereabouts was conducted.

Twomey was located in New York by the New York State Police and placed into custody. Arrangements are being made with The New London Superior Court Part A to extradite Twomey back to the state of Connecticut to answer to the charges.

Twomey was arrested on the following charges and issued a $500,000 court-set bond.

• Robbery in the first degree
• Larceny in the first degree
• Risk of injury
• Assault in the third degree
• Threatening in the second degree
• Unlawful restraint in the first degree

Troopers from Troop E along with Officers from East Lyme Police Department responded to the bank. Detectives from Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Troop E were contacted, responded and assumed the investigation.