A man suspected of robbing a Honesdale bank last month is behind bars and awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania after footprints in the snow led to a break in the case.
Steven French, 48, is charged with robbery, terroristic threats and simple assault. He is accused of walking up to a teller at Citizens Savings Bank, 335 Willow Ave., Honesdale, on Feb. 20 with a tote bag and a note stating he had a gun, and an ultimatum for the teller: Act quickly and naturally and everyone will be safe.
He pushed the bag toward her and said, "Hurry," Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said in a news release.
Mr. French walked out with $2,420 in cash, but borough and state police were on the trail. Surveillance footage showed that he ran south from the bank shortly after the robbery, leaving behind a trail of size 9½ footprints in the snow. They led to the side door of a tattoo parlor at 164 Grandview Ave.
At the parlor, police found Mr. French and took a photograph of him but took no further action. Officials did not specify in the release why Mr. French was not taken into custody. Authorities could not be reached for comment. Ms. Edwards said that afterward Mr. French took a taxi to Dover, N.J.
Two days later, Honesdale police interviewed Bill French, the owner of the parlor and Mr. French's brother. He told police that his brother stayed with him for three days before abruptly leaving without saying goodbye. He told police that he was missing a pair of black winter gloves, a green cloth tote bag and size 9½ shoes.
Police showed the teller eight photographs, including Steven French. The teller identified him as the robber.
Handwriting samples from a letter Steven French wrote a few years prior were similar to the note given to the teller, investigators said.
Mr. French was taken into custody by the Secaucus, N.J., Police Department on Thursday. He remains in custody there, according to information from Ms. Edwards.
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