Oneida police identify NBT Bank robbery suspect

ONEIDA, N.Y. >> A 61-year- old Utica man was charged after allegedly robbing the NBT Bank on Genesee Street Tuesday afternoon, according to the Oneida Police Department.

At about 2:02 p.m., the Oneida Police Department was dispatched to the NBT Bank located at 118 Genesee St. for what was reported to be a bank robbery that had just occurred.

Upon initial investigation, police said it was learned that a lone male had entered the bank and had made a verbal demand for money. The male also made hand movements in his jacket pocket to suggest that he had a gun. The teller handed over an undetermined amount of cash and the male suspect fled the scene.

During the subsequent investigation, a suspect was identified.

The suspect was believed to be a resident of Utica and Oneida County Police agencies, including the Utica Police Department and the New York State Police were alerted to this information and assisted in attempting to locate

the suspect.

The suspect was located a short time later by the Utica Police Department and turned over to the Oneida Police Department.

The suspect, identified as Claude E. Dent, was charged with first- degree robbery and third- degree grand larceny.

He was arraigned in Oneida City Court and remanded to the custody of the Madison County Sheriff without bail pending further court action.

The Oneida Police Department was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit.