BATAVIA, N.Y. -- A trio of men from Buffalo are behind bars, held without bail, accused of robbing the M&T Bank, 7133 Oak Orchard Road, Elba, this morning and then attempting to escape into the woods between Oakfield and Batavia around Route 63 and Townline Road.
The men were identified this evening as Dennis M. Abrams, Jr, 26, of 202 Merrimac St., Buffalo; Demone D. Dillon, 25, 128 LaSalle Ave., Buffalo; and, Michael J. Wells, 24, 69 Camp St., Buffalo.
Witnesses to the 9:49 a.m. stick-up reported that the suspects had at least two guns. Another witness said the suspects fled in a black SUV and traveled south on Route 98.
Officers from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and Batavia City Police responded.
Sergeant Cory Harmon of the New York State Police observed the SUV traveling at a high rate of speed west on Batavia-Elba Townline Road towards Route 63 and gave chase.
When the persuit reached the intersection of Route 63 and Townline Road, two of the subjects jumped from the SUV and fled into a wooded area on the southwest of the intersection
The driver sped off down Route 63 toward Galloway Road. He then drove off the pavement behind a residence on Galloway. When he did, his SUV became stuck in the mud and he got out of the vehicle and tried to run on foot through the field.
He was quickly apprehended.
A short time later, the second suspect was taken into custody south of Townline Road, not far from the Route. 63 and Townline Road intersection.
Which of those two suspects is Abrams and which is Merrimac has not been released. Abrams was reportedly the driver.
The third suspect, Wells, managed to evade dozens of officers from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police and the U.S. Border Patrol, as well K-9 units and two helicopters (deployed at separate times) for more than five hours.
Throughout search for Wells, Sheriff Gary Maha remained confident that he would be captured. The suspect's general locations was apparently known most of the time, in part because he repeatedly used a mobile phone to call a friend, allowing law enforcement officials to triangulate his general location.
Officers finally cuffed Wells at about 2:40 p.m. near the intersection of Route 63 and Galloway Road.
Immediately after the initial report of the fleeing suspects just before 10 a.m., the Oakfield-Alabama Middle/High School was notified and requested to "lock down." Reportedly, per policy, the principle of the school then notified BOCES and BOCES officials then ordered all schools in Genesee County to lock down.
Shortly after 1 p.m., Maha suggested school officials call off the lockdown, telling dispatchers, "We have two suspects in custody and a good idea where the third suspect is, so we don't see any reason to have any schools locked."
The lock down reportedly caused many concerned calls to school officials, law enforcement and local media, with parents worried the suspects were closer to area schools than they actually were.
During the search, one handgun was recovered. A toy gun was picked up when the money was recovered.
The subjects were charged with robbery in the first degree, a class B felony, and arraigned before Elba Town Justice Lois Petote.
Pictured, top to bottom: Wells, Abrams and Dillon.
UPDATE: Dan Fischer is reporting this morning that sources have told WBTA that the scene inside the M&T Bank during the robbery was violent. Nobody was injured, but the robbers entered the bank guns displayed and at one point held a gun to the head of a bank employee. Another employee hid in a rear ofice, under a desk. She managed to trip an alarm. M&T Bank has made counselors available for the employees.
Previously: Manhunt in progress near Route 63 and Townline Road.
UPDATE: WIVB has video of the suspects at Elba Town Court.
