Connecticut State Police Patch STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Department of Public Safety
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, Connecticut 06457
 
Contact: 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 02/08/2007
                  Arrests Made in Bank Robberies in Centerbrook and Chester

On 10/18/06 the Major Crime Squad at Troop F investigated an armed robbery at New Alliance Bank in Centerbrook involving a white male brandishing a handgun. The suspect jumped the counter and demanded money from the tellers before fleeing the bank.  

     On 11/07/2006, the Major Crime Squad responded to the New Alliance Bank in Chester for another armed robbery involving a white male brandishing a handgun.  As with the above robbery, the suspect jumped the counter and demanded money from the tellers before fleeing the bank.

      After a lengthy investigation detectives determined that two suspects responsible for these robberies were Elena Cook, (36) of LKA 29 Cypress Road, Old Saybrook, CT. and Shane Kerpen, (37) also of 29 Cypress Road in Old Saybrook, CT. 

     The Superior Court in Middletown subsequently authorized arrest warrants for both suspects for the following charges:  Robbery First Degree, Conspiracy to commit Robbery First Degree, Larceny in the Second Degree and Conspiracy to commit Larceny in the Second Degree.

     On 02/08/07, Cook was apprehended at a residence in Westbrook without incident.  Cook was transported to Troop F where she was processed and held on a $100,000.00 court set bond.  Cook is scheduled for arraignment later in the day.         

     Kerpen who is currently incarcerated with D.O.C. is being held on a $500,000.00 court set bond for a bank robbery in North Haven that occurred on 01/17/2006.  Kerpen’s arrest is pending.  ###end###