A week-long robbery spree by a man dubbed "the ponytail bandit" has ended and he is now behind bars after a dramatic scene at the Cranston Parkade on Garfield Avenue last night.
A stone's throw from the Cranston Police Department's headquarters, Vaughn Watrous, 35, of Providence, was taken into custody after Providence and Cranston officers descended on the shopping plaza after Watrous' last robbery attempt at the Citizens Bank ended with him trapped in a car with a wad of cash in his lap, surrounded by police cruisers.
According to police, Watrous was wanted for three robberies in Providence in addition to a robbery on Wednesday at the Sovereign Bank on Reservoir Avenue. He has previously served time for bank robbery convictions.
“Through the collective and comprehensive investigative efforts and information sharing between the Cranston and Providence Police Departments, both communities can rest secure in the knowledge that this dangerous felon has been brought to justice," said Cranston Police Chief Col. Marco Palombo Jr.
Police said officers received a broadcast around 7:30 p.m. that a white male wearing a sweatshirt with a hood over an orange cap had just robbed the Citizens Bank inside the Stop and Shop on Garfield Avenue.
One of the clerks said Watrous was standing in line looking down at his cell phone. When he got to the window, he handed the teller a note demanding money — similar to how he robbed the previous banks, police said.
After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, Watrous walked very quickly towards the exit. Police soon learned that he might still be in the plaza along with an accomplice — Sao Te, 40, of West Warwick, who reportedly was an accomplice and lookout.
Officers split up and began a store-to-store search, reviewing surveillance videos along the way.
A short time later, officers saw a person matching Watrous' description walking out of the TJ Maxx store and get into a vehicle parked out front. Officers swarmed and boxed the car in, demanding Watrous and Te get out of the vehicle. They resisted, so officers pulled them from the car.
A ward of cash in various denominations reportedly fell from Watrous' lap when he was pulled out of the car.
Both men were charged with second degree robbery and felony conspiracy to commit robbery for last night’s Citizen’s Bank robbery and Vaughn faces the additional charge of robbing the Sovereign Bank on Wednesday in Cranston. Both men will be arraigned this afternoon in Kent County District Court.
After receiving information from the RI Department of Corrections, the Providence Police identified Watrous in connection to three robberies in their City in the month of February. These robberies occurred on February 6 at Citizens Bank, 63 Westminster Street; February 11 at Sovereign Bank, 551 North Main Street; and February 12 at Sovereign Bank, 280 Atwells Avenue. At each location Watrous presented a note to the teller stating: “This is a robbery, no alarms, all big bills” and then fled on foot.
Watrous and Te also attempted to rob Compare Foods located at 863 Broad Street on February 14 at 5:15pm .Watrous passed the clerk a note demanding money and when the clerk hesitated, Watrous became frightened and grabbed the note and fled. Watrous was identified by a sequential photo array by the clerk.
Watrous was charged by the Providence Police with 3 counts of second degree robbery, and 1 count assault with intent to rob.
“This arrest is a result of great interagency communication involving crimes that cross city lines. Cranston Police Detectives have been attending the Providence Police weekly robbery meetings for several years and the relationship and shared information are of great value to both police agencies,” said Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. of Providence Police.