State police nab 20-year-old suspect in bank robbery

Monroe - The Provident Bank, located at 815 State Route 208 in the Town of Blooming Grove, was robbed just after noon on Wednesday, Dec. 2, by a white male, who had passed the teller a note and gestured as if he had handgun. Responding State Police and Town of Blooming Grove Police patrols ascertained that the suspect had left the bank driving a gray colored 2004 Honda Accord bearing New York registration ETJ 4203. As Orange County 911 was broadcasting a description of the getaway vehicle, State Police Sgt. Bruce Furbeck of the Monroe Barracks was responding to the robbery heading southbound on State Route 208. In the area of Barnes Road, Furbeck saw the suspect travel past him heading northbound on State Route 208 toward Washingtonville. After completing a U-turn, he chased the Honda onto Mountain Lodge Park Road stopped the car. The State Police arrested Nicholas C. Sloanhoffer, 20, of New Windsor, and charged him with first-degree robbery and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He will be arraigned in the Town of Blooming Grove Court. Upon the execution of a search warrant for the 2004 Honda Accord used during the robbery, a black toy pistol was recovered along with clothing worn during the robbery, the note passed to the teller and a grocery bag containing the $2,786 in stolen money.