MELVILLE, N.Y. — Most criminals don’t rack up fares when they flee, but a suspect in a bank robbery hailed a taxi while trying to escape Tuesday.
Joseph L. Russo, 46, faces one count of third-degree robbery.
Police said he entered the Washington Mutual Bank branch and gave a teller a note announcing a robbery and demanding money. The teller gave him an undisclosed amount of cash but also slipped in a dye pack.
That device exploded as he tried to escape, covering him with red dye. He abandoned the bag of money and hailed a cab to get away, police said.
A witness told police that a man fitting the description of the robber had just taken off in a taxi. Officers called the cab company and discovered the passenger’s destination: his home address.
Officers Douglas Cortes and Michael Maio greeted Russo as he stepped out of the cab.
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