Updated May 23
Federal agents arrested an Edgartown resident for his connection to an armed bank robbery in Falmouth in April.
Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois’ office issued a press release on Tuesday announcing the arrest of 40-year-old Petar Petyoshin in last month’s robbery of the Rockland Trust bank.
Petyoshin is an employee of the Oak Bluffs Water District.
Police say that he robbed the bank on April 8 wearing a disguise, and brandishing a handgun. He also threatened to use a bomb in the bank.
According to reports by the Falmouth Police, Petyoshin allegedly “zip-tied bank patrons and employees before leaving with several thousand dollars.” Upon leaving, he allegedly stole a motor vehicle belonging to a bank patron.
Investigators identified Petyoshin and his vehicle through witness descriptions and video surveillance from nearby businesses, including the Steamship Authority, before and after the robbery, the DA’s office states.
The investigation was conducted by the Massachusetts State Police, Falmouth Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Petyoshin was arrested and taken into custody by the Massachusetts State Police
Special Tactical Operations Team at the Martha’s Vineyard Registry of Motor Vehicles Tuesday morning, and brought to the Edgartown Police Station for processing.
State Police were assisted by the FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Falmouth, Edgartown, and Oak Bluffs Police Departments.
Petyoshin was arraigned a few hours later in Falmouth District Court on charges of armed and masked robbery with a firearm, bomb threat, larceny over $1,200, carjacking, and seven counts of kidnapping.
He’s currently being held without bail pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 30.
Witnesses in Edgartown reported seeing a raid of an Edgartown home on Tuesday which was later linked to Petyoshin.
Officials say that the raid was performed after the arrest, and was related to a search warrant involved in the investigation.
Around 9 am, a number of unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers surrounded the Chase Road residence.
Times staff were told by residents of the house, one of them a young child, that they were ejected from the property by law enforcement. They say it was unclear what entity the officers were with at the time.
Various social media pictures and videos linked to Petyoshin indicate a familiarity with handguns, some posts appearing within days of the Rockland bank robbery in Falmouth.
