NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey man accused of robbing a Newark bank on Saturday was arrested Monday after video circulated showing his loot bag explode with the red dye pack a quick-thinking teller tossed in.
Newark public safety officials said a police detective spotted 27-year-old Esau Grant Monday on the street, and he now faces robbery and weapons charges, News 12 New Jersey reported.
UPDATE - Newark Police Arrest Esau Grant, 27, of Newark, for a 7-3-21 bank robbery at Capital One, 487 Springfield Ave. Suspect is presumed innocent til proven guilty in a court of law. https://t.co/Uukr1W9RiC via @Nextdoor pic.twitter.com/dm6zrKuaID
— Dept. Public Safety (@NewarkNJPolice) July 5, 2021
Grant is accused of walking into the Capitol One branch on Springfield Avenue and passing a note to a teller indicating he was armed and demanding money, WNBC reported.
“I have a gun give me all the money from the register please, and no one will get hurt,” the note read, according to police.
Although he left the building with $2,300, police quickly obtained video of the suspect fleeing the robbery scene, with the red dye pack exploding as he walked beyond the bank’s property, the TV station reported.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! Red dye pack explodes on bank robber, Newark police seeking help to ID him. This was on Springfield at Capitol One. Watch man in white shirt. @NBCNewYork @NewarkNJPolice pic.twitter.com/DugMEMaKj8
— Brian Thompson (@brian4NY) July 3, 2021
The suspect, now identified as Grant, can then be seen in the video running north out of camera view, enveloped in a red cloud, News 12 New Jersey reported.
“I am thankful to community members for responding to our requests for tips regarding the identity and whereabouts of this suspect. I also commend Newark Robbery Detective Darnell Graham for his dedication in following up on those leads,” Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara said in a prepared statement.
“Because the bank’s money dye pack exploded while the suspect was fleeing the scene, he was literally caught ‘red-handed’ by Detective Graham’s outstanding investigative skills,” O’Hara added.
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