Couple from Waltham Arrested for Bank Robbery in Watertown

Watertown Police detectives tracked down a Waltham couple suspected of robbing a Citizens Bank branch and placed them under arrest Monday afternoon.

The man, identified as Justin W. O’Connell, 28, of Waltham, showed a note asking for money and left the store. He tried to hide in the trunk of a car driven by the second suspect, Erin R. Aspinwall, 29, of Waltham, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn.

The bank had a surprise for the robbers, however.

"The car was parked in the fire lane (outside Stop & Shop) and a witness observed him come out and climb into the trunk," Lawn said. "The dye pack (placed in the bundle of money taken from the bank) exploded. He got out of the trunk and into the car and they fled toward Newton."

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Watertown Police circulated photos of the suspects from surveillance cameras and Waltham Police identified the couple, Lawn said.

Detectives tracked O'Connell and Aspinwall to a Holiday Inn Express in Brockton, and arrested them at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Lawn said. Watertown Police also received assistance in the investigation from the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force.

Police recovered most of the money and the note allegedly used in the bank robbery, Lawn said. 

Justin W. O’Connell, 28, and Erin R. Aspinwall, 29, both of of 49 Derby St. Apt. 1 in Waltham, each face a charge of unarmed robbery.