Police Arrest Alleged

Chase Bank Robber 

By Andrew Gorosko

Police arrested a Wolcott man on a warrant on May 18, charging him in connection with the April robbery of the Chase Bank branch office at 30 Church Hill Road.

Police said they arrested Brian Lavigne, 26, at the Danbury Superior Court prisoner lockup, charging him with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and third-degree larceny.

Lavigne was arraigned on the charges in court. He did not enter pleas. His next court appearance in Danbury is slated for June 1. Lavigne is being held in custody on $200,000 bail in connection with the Chase Bank robbery.

Lavigne also is facing multiple criminal charges stemming from an April 16 bank robbery that he allegedly committed at a Webster Bank branch office in Southington. He is being held on $500,000 bail in connection with that incident.

Lavigne has been held in custody since April 20, when he was arrested by Southington police. Lavigne was scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on May 19 on charges stemming from the Southington bank robbery. Those charges are first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, fourth-degree larceny, and conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny.

Newtown police allege that at about 3:12 pm on April 18, Lavigne entered the Chase Bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. The teller provided money, after which Lavigne allegedly left the scene as a passenger in a getaway car allegedly driven by Todd Froehlich, 38, of Woodbury.

Police then received a 911 call from the bank reporting that it had been robbed by a lone man who had just left the premises.

There were no injuries in the bank robbery.

On April 29, Newtown police arrested Froehlich, charging him with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and third-degree larceny.

Also, state police have charged Froehlich for allegedly robbing a Webster Bank branch office in Sherman on April 28. State police have charged Froehlich with first-degree robbery, fourth-degree larceny, first-degree unlawful restraint, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, and two counts of assault on a police officer.

Froehlich is being held on high bail in connection with the Newtown and Sherman bank robberies. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 31.