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SALISBURY, Mass (WBZ NewsRadio) — Monday evening, Massachusetts State Police said that the active search for an individual connected to a bank robbery in York, Maine has concluded with the suspect still at large. The MSP said in a statement on Twitter that the suspect claimed to have a bomb during the robbery, but State Police cleared the suspect's vehicle and motel room of explosives.
Salisbury Police released a statement on Twitter earlier that same evening.
At 4:53 PM Monday, a Salisbury Police officer noticed a white van that matched the description of one used in a bank robbery in York, Maine that morning. The officer stopped and approached the driver, identifying him as Brandon Simmons of Seabrook, New Hampshire. In an attempt to flee, Simmons allegedly struck the officer in the face and struggled with him to get the van's transmission out of park. Simmons was able to shift the vehicle into drive and sped off.
Salisbury Police pursued the vehicle northbound on North End Boulevard into Seabrook, where they joined forces with Seabrook officers and members of the MSP. After the chase crossed back over state lines into Salisbury, a decision was made to terminate the pursuit because it was becoming too hazardous to continue. It was after officers stopped pursuit that the vehicle sped westbound on Elm Street, and crashed into a car at the intersection with Gardner Street.
Police believed that Simmons fled the scene on foot, running into a nearby residential neighborhood.
The other driver involved in the crash was transported to Anna Jacques hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
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Simmons is a suspect in a robbery in Newburyport on Saturday, and Monday morning's robbery in York, Maine. Police encouraged residents to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, and said that Simmons was believed to have been wearing a grey black and blue camouflage sweatshirt and black pants.
The police investigation into Simmons' whereabouts continues.
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