The FBI is investigating a bank robbery in Belleville that happened Saturday, April 2, according to the Belleville Police Department.
The BPD said that it responded to a report of a robbery at Valley National Bank on Bloomfield Ave., at 12:09 p.m., and that, upon arrival, learned that the robbers had fled the scene.
Police said two suspects entered the bank and one slid a note to a teller asking her to give him $15,000 to $20,000.
After the teller replied that she had only $1,000, the bandit nodded his head, took the money and fled, police said.
The two suspects were last seen running east on Bloomfield Ave., police said.
One suspect, who gave the note to the teller, was described as white, with a white mustache, tall, slim build, wearing a white Nets jersey with No. 32 on the back and black baseball cap. The other was listed as black, tall, slim build, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a white scarf covering his head.
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Among other recent incidents logged by the BPD, were these reports:
April 3
A motor vehicle infraction led to more difficulties for one driver when officers said they observed a motor vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Cortlandt St., at 9:45 p.m.
Police said the officers pulled over the driver, John Baptista, 34, of Lyndhurst, on the Belleville Turnpike in North Arlington for a motor vehicle check and learned that he was wanted on an active warrant from Newark for $750.
Inside the vehicle, police said officers found small rubber bands on the floor and a hypodermic needle in the center console.
Baptista was arrested on the warrant and was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and was issued summonses charging him with driving while suspended, careless driving and obstruction of view. He was held at the Essex County Jail on bail.
April 4
At 6:57 a.m., police said officers spotted a black Tahoe traveling south on Washington Ave. reportedly swerving over the double yellow line into the northbound lane.
Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop and while speaking to the driver, reportedly detected the strong odor of alcohol. After the driver was given field sobriety tests which he was unable to perform, he was taken into custody.
Elias Balloutine, 34, of Saddle Brook, was charged with drunken driving and issued a summons for careless driving. He was released pending a court hearing.
