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State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Division of State Police
Superintendent Robert M. Coupe |
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Updated DSP News Release #1: Monday, August 31, 2009- Morning Bank Robbery Investigation Underway
Bear- To someone hearing about this incident who wasn’t there- it may have seemed like a comedy of errors, but it was no laughing matter.
At about 9:11 a.m. this morning two sets of New Jersey siblings responded to the Artisans Bank in Bear with plans of carrying out an armed robbery. The gang consisted of Marvin Mencia (22 years old of Philadelphia Avenue in Egg Harbor, New Jersey) and his brother Olman Mencia (21, of South Harrisburg Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey), Jeffrey Johnson (21, of Adriatic Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey) and his sister Ciara Johnson (20, also of Adriatic Avenue).
The four subjects pulled up to the bank in two cars- a Chevrolet Aveo and a Ford Focus. The three men donned wigs and entered the bank. Marvin and Olman were both armed with handguns. Once inside, the bandits duct taped two employees to restrain them and forced the remaining six into a bathroom. In the course of doing so, Marvin discharged his handgun into the ceiling- he later claimed that this was accidental.
The suspects then obtained a female employee from the bathroom and demanded she assist them in locating cash. The employee complied and the suspects obtained an undisclosed amount of money from the tills and the vault.
The three men then fled the bank and locked the doors behind them. Once outside, the robbers realized they had left their keys to the Aveo inside the bank. Because the doors were locked, they could not get back in to retrieve them. It was at this point the secondary get-away-car, the Ford Focus, driven by Ciara Johnson, pulled up to whisk them all away. They then fled the scene eastbound on Route 40.
A witness to the suspects fleeing the scene provided their vehicle description to 911 operators. State Police and New Castle County Police dispatch centers, both called RECOM, issued radio broadcasts with the Ford’s description to patrol officers. A New Castle County Police officer located the Focus in the area of the Route 13 / 40 split and a traffic stop ensued. The suspects were taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 2.
Each suspect was charged with the same offenses which are as follows: 6 counts of Robbery (felony), 8 counts of Kidnapping (felony), 3 counts of Aggravated Menacing (felony), Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony (felony), Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number (felony), Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (felony) and Conspiracy 2nd (felony).
The money and the firearms were recovered in this investigation. No employees were injured.
Bail information was not available at the time of this release. Mug shots will not be available until tomorrow.
Original DSP News Release: Monday, August 31, 2009- Morning Bank Robbery Investigation Underway
Location: Artisans Bank, 1124 Pulaski Highway, Glendale Plaza, Bear, Delaware, New Castle County
Date of Occurrence: Monday, August 31, 2009, at 9:11 a.m.
Suspect(s): Four subjects in custody at Delaware State Police Troop 2
Resume: Detectives from the Delaware State Police Robbery Squad at Troop 2 are currently investigating a bank robbery which occurred this morning in Bear.
At approximately 9:11 a.m., Troopers were called for a robbery report at the Artisans Bank in Glendale Plaza. Preliminary reports indicated four subjects robbed this location and fled eastbound on Route 40. A short time later, officers from the New Castle County Police Department intercepted the vehicle at the Route 13 / 40 split in New Castle.
The suspects were taken into custody without incident and are currently at Troop 2 in Glasgow where this investigation is ongoing.
A more complete release will be provided later this afternoon.
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