Police In MA Continue Search For Maine Bank Robbery Suspect

SALISBURY, MA —State and local police are continuing to search Tuesday morning for a man suspected of two bank robberies, and fleeing a multi-state police chase, numerous outlets report.

Authorities say that Brandon Simmons, 34, is suspected of robbing the Bangor Savings Bank in York, Maine on Monday morning at about 10:20 a.m. He is also suspected of a Saturday robbery at a CVS in Newburyport. Authorities say he is likely armed and dangerous.

According to a news release from the Salisbury Police Department, on Monday at 4:53 p.m., a Salisbury officer approached a white van that matched the description of the one used in the York robbery.

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— Salisbury Police (@SalisburyPolice) November 1, 2021

The driver, who said his name was Brandon Simmons, struck the officer in the face and, after a struggle to keep the car in park, managed to seize control of the car and speed away. Salisbury and Massachusetts State Police officers followed the car into Seabrook, N.H., and then back into Salisbury. Police said they temporarily concluded the chase because it became too dangerous for numerous police cars to quickly wind through narrow residential streets.

At the end of the pursuit, the van sped west, where it hit another vehicle at an intersection. The man believed to be Simmons fled the crash on foot into a nearby residential neighborhood. The driver of that car, which NewsCenter 5 footage shows is a Home Resolutions pickup truck, was transported to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport with non-life-threatening injuries, Salisbury Police Chief Thomas Fowler told WCVB News.

Authorities from numerous agencies, including the Salisbury Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, Seabrook Police Department, Newburyport Police Department, and others searched the Salisbury area Monday afternoon. Salisbury residents were asked to stay inside during the high-speed chase.

"There were police flying up and down the road, then all of a sudden, I heard a big 'bang,'" resident Jeremiah Mancuso told NBC 10 Boston. "My family saw it and I ran out because I'm a nurse and wanted to make sure people were OK, and he was already gone."

At about 9:30 p.m. Monday, the Massachusetts State Police tweeted that they were concluding the active search for the day.

The MSP also announced that the suspect claimed to have a bomb during the York bank robbery, so their Bomb Squad unit cleared the van of explosives, and also searched a motel room linked to the suspect, where they did not find any explosives.

Investigators say that on Saturday, a man alleged to be Simmons walked into a Newburyport CVS, and slipped the pharmacist a note that he had a bomb while demanding prescription drugs. He then fled the store with an undisclosed quantity of prescription drugs, according to a Newburyport Police Department news release.

Massachusetts State Police described the suspect as about six feet tall, thin, and wearing jeans, a dark hoodie, a ski hat, and dark mask and gloves. He may have been wearing a jacket with a camouflage pattern.

UPDATE Active search for suspect is concluding. Investigation into his whereabouts continues. MSP Bomb Squad cleared suspect vehicle of explosives. Bomb Squad search of motel room linked to suspect also negative for explosives. Unless new development, no further updates tonight. https://t.co/o2ZJIbIApw
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 2, 2021