A 35-year-old Haverhill man was arrested within minutes after robbing Haverhill Bank’s Lafayette Square branch Friday morning.
Michael Beatrice, 35, of 81 Winter St., was arrested by Patrolman Gary Melanson on Hilldale Avenue shortly after the 11:10 a.m. robbery. Police were alerted by a citizen who was speaking over the telephone with a bank employee and “overheard the commotion,” police said.
“The capture of this bank robber was the result of the alert citizen quickly reporting the robbery in progress to police. Haverhill Dispatch quickly dispatched the call, and Haverhill Police officers who responded quickly to the scene, broadcast the description of the suspect. Excellent patrol work by Officer Melanson patrolling his sector for the suspect, and subsequently apprehending him. The Haverhill bank employees also did an excellent job of getting an accurate suspect description to the responding officers. This was very good police work by the men and women of the Haverhill Police Department,” said Captain Robert P. Pistone, detective and police spokesman.
After being alerted by the citizen, Haverhill officers arrived on scene and broadcast a description of the suspect who had fled on foot. Melanson located a white male matching the description at the former Cerretani Supermarket Plaza, 142 Hilldale Ave. The suspect was described as a white male wearing dark shorts, tan skin, dark hair and a gray shirt.
Beatrice entered the bank shortly after 11 a.m., jumped the teller window, announced he had a gun and demanded money from a teller, police reported.
He was arraigned at Haverhill District Court and held on $100,000. bail and the case was referred to Salem District Court for possible indictment.
It about time Gary did something right , 3 time I’ve been harass by this police officer. I’m glad I was at work when this happen , cuz I live next to the bank. If I would of been walking by at that time . Anyway good job on catching this guy