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Suspect caught in Baltimore bank hold-up




BALTIMORE – A man who allegedly robbed the Fairfield National Bank Baltimore branch the morning of Dec. 14 and caused the Liberty Union-Thurston School District to go into lockdown is in custody.

Thomas J. Alexander, 19 of Lancaster, has a preliminary hearing Dec. 23, facing charges of second-degree felony robbery and fourth-degree felony theft. Alexander allegedly entered the bank and handed a note to a teller, demanding cash. The teller complied and the suspect fled the bank. An undetermined amount of cash was taken. No weapon was observed during the incident and there were no injuries. The FBI assisted the Baltimore Police Department in the investigation. They worked together to post a photograph and a description of the suspect in local media. The public offered plenty of help.

“We received quite a few tips,” said Baltimore Police Chief Michael Tussey. “A few stood out.”

The tips led authorities to Alexander, who denied the robbery before finally confessing when he realized there were photographs and clear descriptions of him robbing the bank. Tussey said the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office helped to acquire a search warrant for Alexander’s home. Alexander will face a grand jury.

Tussey said Alexander is being held in jail on cash bond and he doesn’t believe Alexander can raise the money to be released on bond. Alexander was already charged with a drug related felony and should be sentenced for that crime Dec. 27. A sentence for the Baltimore robbery will follow.

“This was a case where (Alexander) chose a bank in a small community thinking there wouldn’t be a thorough police response,” said Tussey. “He made a mistake.”


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