Newark Man Claimed to Have Bomb in Bank Robbery, Prosecutor Says

Written By Kim Tran

A Newark man who claimed to have a bomb and a female accomplice have been charged in the Parsippany bank robbery two days before Christmas.

Avery Spotswood, 43, was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery and third-degree terroristic threats.

Quiama S. Harris, 29 was charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery.

According to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Spotswood entered Santander Bank at 239 Littleton Road in Parsippany at about 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Spotswood approached the teller and handed her a handwritten note that read, “Don’t Move! I have a Bomb. Nobody is safe until I am. No dye packs no tracers. Put all cash in this bag,” according to the prosecutor's office.

The teller placed money into Spotswood's bag and he fled the bank on foot, according to the prosecutor's office.

Members of the Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office got still photos from the bank that showed Spotswood committing the robbery, the prosecutor's office said.

The police investigation later confirmed the man was Spotswood, according to the prosecutor's office.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Detective Joseph Puso put out a “critical reach notification” to all law enforcement agencies in New Jersey describing the robbery, including the the note and still images. Police then learned of a similar recent incident in Springfield, according to the prosecutor's office.

Detective James Mirabile of the Springfield Police Department informed Puso that he had information from a license plate of a car, which was in the area of the Springfield bank robbery, that may have been related to the incident in Parsippany. The vehicle registrant was identified as Harris, according to the prosecutor's office.

Puso and Detective Supervisor Matthew Potter of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office's Major Crimes Unit received information that a black female went into the Santander bank before the robbery.

The woman was later identified as Harris, who asked various banking questions, but she did not make a deposit or conduct any other business, the prosecutor's office said.

Still images from the Santander Bank showed the woman who police were later able to identify as Harris, the prosecutor's office said.

Police learned the pair were working to commit the Parsippany bank robbery, according to the prosecutor's office.

Spotswood and Harris were arrested by members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI Newark Division, the Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Department and the Springfield Police Department.

Judge Mary Gibbons Whipple set bail for Spotswood at $200,000 with no 10 percent option. Whipple set bail for Harris at $100,000 with no 10 percent option. Both were unable to post bail and have been remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information relating to these charges can contact the Parsippany Troy Hills Police Department at 973-263-4300 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285- 6200.