Worcester, MA (March 12, 2010) - On March 11, 2010 at approximately 12:45 PM Detectives Robert Johnson and Francis Bartley along with police officer Jason Gaumond conducted a motor vehicle stop at Piedmont and Chandler Streets. The vehicle, a black Honda Accord was stopped by the officers because the registration plate was queried by the officers and it came back to a Ford Explorer. After making the stop, officers approached the driver of the vehicle who was identified as Santos Vega, 35 years old of 115 Pleasant Street, Worcester. The officers asked Mr. Vega for his license and registration. Mr. Vega stated that he did not have a license and the vehicle was not registered. A check with the registry confirmed Mr. Vega's status and he was subsequently placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle without a license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and illegally attaching plates. A passenger in the vehicle, Ms. Carmen Ramos, 54 years old of 115 Pleasant Street was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

This motor vehicle stop was the result of a lengthy investigation in which Worcester Police Detectives where investigating two bank robberies which occurred on February 5, 2010 at 12:00 PM at the Bank of America located at 365 Main Street and on March 4, 2010 at 12:00 PM at the Commerce Bank located at 386 Main Street. On these occasions a male who was described as a white male or light skinned Hispanic male had entered the banks and demanded cash, no weapons were seen nor mentioned. The physical descriptions and clothing descriptions matched both robberies.

Worcester Police Detectives cultivated the suspect identity with the assistance of the Community Impact officers and the Worcester Police Vice Squad. These officers were conducting surveillance on Mr. Vega prior to the motor vehicle stop.

In addition to the motor vehicle charges Mr. Vega was also charged with 2 counts of unarmed robbery, he will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Court House on Friday, March 12, 2010.