Man wanted in Washington and North Strabane bank robberies arrested near New York

A West Virginia man accused of robbing banks in Washington and North Strabane has been arrested near New York, police say.

Brandon Scerri, 29, of Wellsburg, was in custody after allegedly robbing a bank in New York, according to Facebook posts Thursday by the Washington and North Strabane police departments. Neither provided details about when the New York robbery took place, the location of the bank or when Scerri was arrested.

Scerri was wanted in connection with the robberies of the Washington Financial Bank on East Wylie Avenue on June 3 and the First National Bank on Route 19 in North Strabane on June 5. In the North Strabane robbery, Scerri and his companion, Kayla Pruett, 28, also of Wellsburg, were charged with multiple counts of theft. Pruett was also arrested in New York, according to police. Pruett has not yet been charged in connection with the Washington robbery.

Scerri will be extradited to Pennsylvania pending criminal proceedings in New York.

Police were called to Washington Financial Bank on June 3 after the suspect, wearing a black surgical mask and a black hooded jacket, allegedly handed a teller a note saying he had a gun and unless they have money, “no one inside the bank will go home.” .” Dissatisfied with having only received $155, the thief demanded to see a teller's cash drawer, and had to be told to open a door and not push it when he left the bank, according to the criminal complaint.

Scerri allegedly stole $7,450 from the North Strabane bank, according to court documents. After that robbery, Scerri and Pruett purchased items at a Walgreens store in Canonsburg and ate at a KFC restaurant, according to police.