Police arrest alleged ‘dreadlocked bank robber’

Sign Up For Our FREE Daily eNews!

Mejia, left, and surveillance photo of Sept. 4 Northway Bank robber, right.
Mejia, left, and surveillance photo of Sept. 4 Northway Bank robber, right.

MANCHESTER, NH – Ricardo Mejia, 24, of Manchester, was arrested Sept. 14, charged in three separate bank robberies around the city since April. He was arrested on a warrant after police recognized him in the passenger seat of a Volkswagen stopped in front of Bonneville & Sons on Hooksett Road in Manchester.

Manchester Police responded to three separate bank robberies, on April 14, May 23 and September 4, 2015. Each bank was located in the south end of the city and two of three robberies provided a description of a man wearing a “dreadlock” costume hat and wig. The assailant advised the teller in each robbery that he “had a gun” although none was shown.

Detective Brian O’Leary worked the case and determined the three bank robberies were connected. His investigation led him to Ricardo Mejia, 24, of Manchester. Arrest warrants for Mejia were filed for the Citizens Bank, TD Bank and the Northway Bank Robberies.

Detective Dan Doherty, along with the United States Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force, District of New Hampshire, located Mejia at 4:50 p.m. on Sept. 14. Mejia was the passenger in a vehicle operated by Travis Watson, 25, of Manchester, New Hampshire.

The task force was actively looking for Mejia when they were able to identify him seated in the passenger side of the Volkswagen. The vehicle was stopped in front of 625 Hooksett Road just before 5 p.m. Monday when Mejia was taken into custody without incident. The operator of the vehicle was driving with a suspended license, so he too was taken into custody. Watson is not believed to be involved in the aforementioned bank robberies.

Watson
Watson

Watson was charged with driving after revocation and driving without giving proof (insurance). He was released on $500 personal recognizance and is set to appear in the 9th Circuit Court- Manchester on October 22, 2015.

Mejia is charged with three counts of robbery and will appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on September 15, 2015.


email boxYou’re one click away! Sign up for our free eNewsletter and never miss another thing

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!