Arrests made in connection with Valley bank robberies
RCMP have two people in custody in connection with two bank robberies in Kings County in the past week.
Cpl. Chris Marshall said police had identified suspects in a robbery at the Royal Bank in Berwick last Thursday and were making plans to arrest them when they were called to a bank hold-up in Greewnood at about 3:30 p.m Wednesday afternoon.
A man armed with a knife walked into the Valley Credit Union branch on Central Avenue and made off with some cash.
About 20 minutes later, a suspect was arrested without incident at a home on Kenwood Avenue in Greenwood. Police allege that he was involved in both robberies.
A 30-year-old woman who came out of the house was also arrested. Marshall said she isn’t involved in the robberies, but was wanted on a warrant and was found to be in breach of release conditions for another matter.
Not long after the man was arrested, RCMP in Digby County arrested another woman in Tiverton, who they allege was involved in the Berwick robbery.
All three people arrested are residents of Greenwood. They were held in custody overnight and are scheduled to appear in Kentville provincial today.
Ryan Taylor Wilband, 42, has been charged with two counts each of robbery, wearing a mask with intent to commit an offence, theft over $5,000, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and three counts of breach of probation.
The person who robbed the Berwick bank was armed with a hammer.
Raylene Rose Mahaney, 28, is charged with one count each of robbery, wearing a mask to commit an offence, and theft over $5,000. Marshall said he wasn’t sure what role investigators allege she had in the Berwick robbery.
Desiree Jerrica Dawn Smith, 30, faces a new charge of failing to follow conditions of a court order.