Husband and Wife Charged in Woodbridge Bank Robbery

The Woodbridge Police Department has arrested a husband and wife, both formerly from New Haven in connection with the March robbery of the TD Bank located at 128 Amity Road, Woodbridge.

Their arrests stem from the investigation which began on March 9 at approximately 12:45 p.m. when police responded to an activated alarm at the TD Bank.

It was determined that two unknown males entered the bank, at which time one of the suspects demanded money from a teller, while the second suspect kept other bank employees and customers from interceding, police said.

The suspects were described as black males, dressed in all black clothing, and wearing masks. They fled in a tan colored vehicle with a New Jersey registration, which was waiting outside the bank and was last seen heading south on Amity Road.

The vehicle was located a short time later in New Haven, but was unoccupied. Detectives were able to determine that Jermaine Brooks was one of the suspects who entered the bank, and his wife, Zakea Brooks, was the driver of the vehicle., police said The investigation remains active and additional arrests are anticipated.

Police were recently able to track the couple to Anderson, S.C. after they fled the area and relocated in South Carolina. With the assistance of the Anderson City Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Zakea and Jermaine Brooks were taken into custody and detained in South Carolina as fugitives from justice based on the Woodbridge charges.

Woodbridge Police traveled to South Carolina and took Zakea and Jermaine Brooks into custody yesterday on outstanding arrest warrants related to the bank robbery, and transported them back to Connecticut to face charges.

Jermaine Brooks, 37, was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. He was detained overnight in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Zakea Brooks, 34, was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. She was detained overnight in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

Both were presented for arraignment this morning (10/8/14) at New Haven Superior Court.