MAYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT
15 Park Avenue Maywood, NJ 07607
COMMUNITY BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED
***Press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office***
Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the arrest of MARCELINO GARCIA (DOB: 06-17-93) of 51 First Street, Apartment 8A, Hackensack, in relation to a series of bank robberies that took place over the last sixteen months throughout northern New Jersey. GARCIA was arrested by a Task
Force comprised of members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Investigations Squad, under the direction of Chief Carmen MARTINO, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Division (“FBI”), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy A. Gallagher, and the following police departments: Paramus, Maywood, River Edge, New Milford, Glen Rock, Lyndhurst, Garfield, Oradell, Rochelle Park, Dumont, Emerson, River Vale, Ramsey, Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, Oakland, Ridgewood and Wayne. The arrest is result of six-month, joint investigation involving the aforementioned agencies, which formed a Task Force led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI.
As previously reported to the press, the following bank robberies were committed on the dates noted below by an individual referred to as the “Countdown Bandit”:
02/19/2015 – Community Bank, Rochelle Park, NJ
07/01/2015 – Community Bank, Maywood, NJ
08/12/2015 – Hudson City Savings Bank, River Edge, NJ
10/23/2015 – Hudson City Savings Bank, New Milford, NJ
11/06/2015 – Hudson City Savings Bank, Glen Rock, NJ
12/03/2015 – Hudson City Savings Bank, Lyndhurst, NJ
12/29/2015 – Hudson City Savings Bank, Oradell, NJ
03/08/2016 – M&T Bank, Wayne, NJ
04/28/2016 – M&T Bank, Garfield, NJ
As a result of law enforcement intelligence sharing regarding the description of the suspect’s vehicle used during the above robberies, numerous leads were developed regarding potential suspect vehicles, as well as potential suspects. These leads were investigated by the Task Force and ultimately members of the Task Force identified Marcelino GARCIA as the individual using the vehicle identified during the course of the robberies listed above and began to investigate him as a possible suspect.
On June 16, 2016, at 10:25 a.m., a robbery was reported at the Spencer Savings Bank, located at 219 Maple Avenue, Wallington, NJ. Members of the Task Force immediately responded to assist the Wallington Police Department and quickly assessed that it was the individual previously identified as the “Countdown Bandit” that committed the robbery. During the afternoon hours on June 16, 2016, a search warrant was executed at 51 First Street, Apartment 8A, Hackensack, NJ, the residence of Marcelino GARCIA and GARCIA was taken into custody without incident at the location. Based on the investigation to date, GARCIA was subsequently charged with the robbery of all ten of the banks noted above.
Marcelino GARCIA has been charged with ten counts of 2nd degree Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:15-1. Bail has been set by the Honorable James J. Guida, J.S.C. at $750,000.00, full surety. He has been remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court on June 17, 2016, at 9:00 a.m.
Acting Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting Prosecutor Grewal would also like to thank the law enforcement agencies that assisted in this investigation and participated in the Task Force.