FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — The Fort Walton Beach Police Department (FWBPD) has arrested James M. Connolly for attempted armed robbery and robbery after he reportedly attempted to rob one bank and successfully robbed a second on Thursday afternoon, the FWBPD said in a press release.
According to the FWBPD, at approximately 2:01 p.m. yesterday, Fort Walton Beach Police officers responded to First National Bank and Trust located at 29 Eglin Parkway NE, regarding an attempted robbery.
The male suspect reportedly entered the bank and presented a note to a teller demanding money. The man had an electronic weapon concealed in his clothing at the time and caused it to spark in an apparent attempt to get what he wanted, according to police.
The teller was unable to fulfill his request and the suspect fled the scene.
While officers were investigating the first robbery, a second bank robbery was reported at the United Fidelity Bank located at 135 Perry Avenue SE in Fort Walton Beach.
The same suspect allegedly entered the bank and presented a note to a teller demanding money, according to the FWBPD. He then reportedly fled from the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and was wearing different clothing at the time.
Later that evening, a FWBPD patrol sergeant located the suspect in the lobby of the Quality Inn located at 322 Miracle Strip Parkway SE in Fort Walton Beach.
He was wearing clothing similar to that of the robbery suspect and possessed the same color mask worn in the second robbery at the time he was arrested, according to police.
Evidence recovered during the investigation of both robberies has linked the suspect to them, police said.
The cases are still under active investigation. The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding these robberies to please call Detective Eric Boucher at 850-833-9546 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477.
