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HAZLETON — Two men were arrested in Hazleton Wednesday evening in connection with a reported robbery at the Sans Souci Parkway M&T Bank branch in Hanover Township earlier in the day.
Aaron Fernandez, 29, and Wayne Castetter, 45, were taken into custody at 549 Peace St., Hazleton police said. A woman also was taken into custody, but her name has not been released.
Their arrest comes after a joint investigation by Hazleton Police, Hanover Township Police and FBI agents based out of Scranton.
According to a release from Hazleton Police Chief Jerry Speziale, Hazleton police were contacted by Hanover Township police shortly after the robbery, sending a photograph of a white Ford convertible observed fleeing the bank on the Sans Souci after the robbery.
A Hazleton detective recognized the vehicle from the Peace Street home, and police subsequently located the vehicle being driven by a 47-year-old Hispanic woman, who was taken into custody for further investigation.
Police towed the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Fernandez and Castetter were at the Peace Street home, and were later removed from the home.
Speziale on Wednesday night said Fernandez and Castetter were being transported back to Hanover Township for further processing.
The bank was closed after the holdup, according to a notice posted to the front door apologizing for the inconvenience. Customers were directed to branches in Kingston and Wilkes-Barre. Police arrived at the bank around 12:15 p.m.
Customers were able to access an ATM inside the front door, but could not go into the main part of the bank.
“Usually this is lunch hour right now,” said one man who drove off after he was not able to do his banking.
Others expressed surprise when a reporter informed them of the reported robbery.
“They’re my bank for 30 years,” said a woman.
Fernandez and Castetter were arraigned Thursday by District Judge Thomas Malloy in Luzerne County Central Court.
Fernandez was charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, theft and receiving stolen property. He was jailed for lack of $225,000 bail.
Castetter was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, theft and receiving stolen property. He was jailed for lack of $175,000 bail.
