Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

CRANSTON, R.I. -- A man charged in the robbery Wednesday of the Garden City Bank of America Branch is being held without bail as a violator on two previous matters, according to jail officials.

James V. Debartolo, 53, of 718 Dyer Ave. in Cranston, is being held as a probation violator in the Adult Correctional Institutions on a felony shoplifting case from 2005 and drug charges from 2002. He whas been charged with receiving stolen goods in the Garden City bank robbery.

The second man charged in the robbery -- Damian Rossi, 48, whose last known address was 1564 Cranston St. -- faces charges of second-degree robbery and felony receiving stolen goods. He was brought to District Court in Warwick Thursday for an initial felony appearance. Court records indicate he was held without bail on those charges but ACI records do not show Rossi being held.

According to the police, Rossi told a bank clerk he had a weapon but he never showed it. He took the money and placed it in a black briefcase and walked out toward the back of the bank. The robbery occurred around 2 p.m.

Capt. Robert W. Ryan said the bank provided surveillance photographs of the men and they showed them to people as they canvassed the area. Sgt. Karen Guilbeault spotted Rossi running through a wooded area in Dean Estates, he said.

Rossi stopped at his mother's house on New London Avenue and then went to Debartolo's house on Dyer Avenue. The police arrested him a short time after the robbery at Debartolo's house without a struggle. He had money on him, the police say. Debartolo had money on his person and money in his bedroom, Ryan said.

Ryan said that a coordinated effort between police and the State Police High Intensity Drug Traficking Area Task Force helped to capture the men quickly. He said that a third man originally arrested was not charged.

The original version of this story, "2 men face charges in alleged Cranston bank robbery," was posted at 11:44 a.m.

 Tags  Bank of America Cranston RI robbery

Comments

Lori said:

Citizen's Bank on Oaklawn Ave and BOA in Garden City...time to get out of the neighborhood. Cranston really isn't what it used to be!

Link | May 28, 2009 3:23 PM
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Bob said:

Boy you got that right......it's becoming the next Providence....

Link | May 29, 2009 7:05 AM
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