A 36-year-old Methuen, man charged with robbing a Haverhill bank of $10,000 after commandeering a car in Lawrence, is being held at the Middleton House of Corrections pending a dangerousness hearing.
Ryan Messina, of 20 Calumet Road in Methuen, was arraigned in Haverhill District Count Wednesday, on four charges— assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest and unarmed robbery. Haverhill District Court Judge Cesar A. Archilla scheduled the dangerousness hearing for Wednesday, June 18.
According to Essex County Assistant District Attorney Olivia Brooks, Messina is alleged to have ordered a person out of a white Honda CRV in Lawrence shortly after noon on Monday. He then is alleged to have driven to the Pentucket Bank at 395 Lowell Ave. in Haverhill. Wearing a mask and sunglasses Messina is also alleged to have handed the teller a note demanding $10,000. He was given the cash and left the bank in the same vehicle. Brooks said security cameras caught the stolen vehicle entering and leaving the bank’s parking lot.
Haverhill Police detectives with the help of the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI and the Methuen Police located Messina near his residence the next day.
Brooks said Messina is currently on probation and has a lengthy arrest record with cases pending in both Lawrence and Haverhill.
Lawrence Attorney Stephen J. Wright was appointed to represent him.