The suspect was held on $100,000 cash bail following her arraignment in Springfield District Court
Desiree FerreiraAn update to this story was posted at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday
LONGMEADOW - A 19-year-old Westfield woman, suspect in the March 24 robbery of Berkshire Bank’s Longmeadow Street branch, turned herself in to police Monday night after learning that she was wanted by police for questioning.
Desiree Ferreira of Elm Street in Westfield, was charged with unarmed robbery and receiving stolen property, according to a release issued by Capt. John M. Stankiewicz.
Ferreira denied the charges Tuesday in Springfield District Court. She was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. A bindover hearing to determine whether the case will be tried in District Court or Hampden Superior Court, has been set for May 3.
Police, meanwhile, continue to search for Ferreira’s suspected get-away driver, Douglas Morse, 32, also of Westfield. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. The vehicle used in the heist and the money realized has not yet been recovered.
Longmeadow detectives, working with state police, identified the second suspect as Morse after what police described as an “exhaustive” investigation.
The robbery occurred about 11:30 a.m. at 138 Longmeadow St. The suspect handed the teller a note demanding money and did not show a weapon, police said. She made off with an undetermined amount of money, and was seen getting into a gray, four-door sedan that headed south on Longmeadow Street.
In an unrelated matter, local and state police continue to probe a bank robbery that occurred on March 29 at Hampden Bank’s Longmeadow Street branch.
The suspect, who entered the bank about 3:30 p.m., is described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall, medium- to heavy-build, wearing a blue/gray coat, jeans and a Red Sox baseball cap.
The teller was handed a note demanding money. No weapon was shown or injuries reported. The suspect made off with an undetermined amount of was last seen walking east on Bliss Road.
Anyone with information is asked to call Longmeadow Police at (413) 567-3311. Anonymous tips can be made via the text-a-tip line. They should be addressed to “Crimes“ or 274637, and begin with the word “Solve.“
Hampden Saving bank is offering a reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the assailant.