The search continues for a man suspected of robbing banks in Derby and Shelton June 19.
Police said the suspect, identified as Juan Bulerin, 42, of Bridgeport, walked into the Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan on Pershing Drive Friday shortly after 9 a.m. and demanded a teller fill his backpack with cash.
Bulerin is then suspected of doing the same thing about an hour later at the Chase Bank at 675 Bridgeport Ave.
In the Shelton case, Officer Bill Serrano spotted a man, thought to be Bulerin, get into a car in the Chase parking lot and speed off.
The car sped onto Route 8 south, with Serrano following, according to a statement from police. Bulerin hit speeds approaching 100 mph, according to police radio dispatches, and managed to elude capture.
Like the Derby heist, Bulerin allegedly pointed to his hip and implied he had a weapon. A weapon was not actually shown.
Shelton detectives were able to almost immediately make one arrest connected to the case.
Carol Wadsworth, 46, of Bridgeport, is a friend of Bulerin’s who lied to police when questioned, Shelton police said. She was charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree and is due in Derby court June 29.
Three banks in the area have been robbed in two weeks.
The first robbery happened just before noon June 13 at a Wachovia Bank at 320 Coram Ave.
In that case, Shelton police said a white man wearing sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt walked into the bank, indicated he had a gun and demanded money.
He fled on a bicycle after stealing an unspecified amount of money. The suspect is described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, with short blond hair and a star burst tattoo on his neck.
Anyone with information on the Shelton bank robberies should call 203-924-1544.
Anyone with information on the Derby bank robbery should call 203-734-1651.