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03/14/2024 05:59 PMPress Release from East Haven Police Department
The East Haven Police Department (EHPD) has made an arrest in connection to an attempted bank robbery that took place at the Bank of America at 170 Main Street in East Haven in which a male subject entered the bank and demanded money from the bank teller, while implying that he had a gun.
On March 13, the East Haven Public Safety Dispatch Center received a 911 call from an employee at the Bank of America stating that a male in the bank stated that he had a firearm and was demanding money from his bank account. A description of the suspect and last-known direction of travel was relayed to responding officers, who were en route to the area.
Upon officers’ arrival to the bank, the suspect was immediately identified as Richard Staar, 73, of East Haven. It was later determined through the investigation that Staar entered the Bank of America and attempted to withdraw money from an account with insufficient funds. The bank employee told investigators that Staar became irate when he was advised that he would not be able to withdraw money because the account he was referring to was already overdrawn. The bank employee advised investigators that Staar then told her that he was going to take out his gun and rob the bank if she did not let him withdraw the money he requested. Other witnesses inside the bank at the time confirmed the bank employee’s statements to police.
A search for Staar and the vehicle in which he fled the bank, a 2024 Chevrolet Camaro, ensued. Detective Jon Trinh, who was traveling northbound on I-95, observed Staar traveling southbound on I-95 in Branford and relayed Staar’s location to officers searching the area. Responding units got in position and waited for him to exit the highway.
A short time later, Staar exited the highway at the exit 52 off-ramp and headed north on North High Street. Captain Joseph Murgo, Sergeant Joseph Mulhern, and Officer Sean Halligan conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of the exit 52 off-ramp and took Staar into custody without further incident.
Staar was transported to the EHPD for processing and was charged with criminal attempt to commit robbery in the first degree, threatening in the first degree with a firearm, and breach of peace in the second degree. Starr was held on a $150,000 surety bond and was scheduled to appear in court on March 14.