April 1, 2017 – On Friday, March 31, 2017 at
approximately 5:39 p.m. Newark Police Officers responded to the WSFS Bank
located at 201 Suburban Drive after receiving a 911 call from an employee
advising that a subject matching the description of a serial bank robber was in
the bank. Arriving officers observed a black male subject wearing glasses
with his hood up entering a black Nissan Altima with its license plate
obstructed in the bank parking lot. Officers recognized this subject as
matching the description of a suspect in three other recent bank robberies in
Newark. The suspect vehicle refused to stop on command and a brief
vehicle pursuit ensued southbound on Elkton Road. Newark Officers
discontinued the pursuit in the area of Interchange Boulevard due to the
suspect’s erratic driving. A description of the suspect and suspect
vehicle was provided to Maryland State Police and a short time later Newark
Officers were advised that Maryland State Police had the suspect stopped in his
vehicle at a North East, MD truck stop located at 75 North East Road.
Newark Officers responded to the truck stop and confirmed the suspect, Nicholas
R. Vaughn, was the same person that had fled the bank. Officers learned
that Vaughn had been in WSFS Bank for several minutes and that an employee called 911 prior to the robbery occurring. Vaughn eventually approached a 30
year old female teller and demanded money. The teller subsequently turned over an undisclosed amount
of cash to Vaughn and he left the bank.
Vaughn was subsequently
arrested by the Maryland State Police on an outstanding warrant from the
Harford County Sheriff’s Office. Newark Detectives obtained an arrest
warrant for Vaughn for four bank robberies based on evidence recovered from him
and his vehicle, interviews conducted by Newark Officers, and surveillance
footage. Vaughn was charged with robberies at the following banks: TD
Bank, 230 E. Delaware Ave (2/11/2017); American Spirit Federal Credit Union,
1110 Elkton Road (2/24/2017); Wells Fargo, 622 S. College Avenue (3/10/2017),
WSFS Bank, 201 Suburban Drive (3/31/2017).
Vaughn was turned over to the
custody of the Harford County Detention Center and is currently awaiting
extradition to Delaware.
Suspect:
Nicholas R. Vaughn (photo
attached)
31 year old black male
Baltimore, MD
Charges:
Robbery 1st (2
counts)
Robbery 2nd (2
counts)
There is no surveillance
video available at this time.
Anyone with additional information on this incident should contact
Detective Daniel Bystricky, 302-366-7100 x3136, or Daniel.Bystricky@cj.state.de.us
You can send an anonymous text message tip by texting 302NPD and
your message to TIP411.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at
1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at
www.tipsubmit.com where a reward may be available.
The Newark Police Department affirms that all defendants are
presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.
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