Bridgeport bank robbery suspect in custody

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Police in Bridgeport tracked the bank robbery suspect to a Fairmont motel and arrested him Wednesday morning.

Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker praised the unified response and quick apprehension in the investigation.

“As a result of the investigation a suspect was identified within hours of the robbery,” Walker said,”The suspect, thirty-five-year-old Christopher Figueroa was taken into custody at 9:30 this morning without incident in the motel on Locust Avenue in Fairmont, West Virginia.”

Walker says details of the investigation were kept confidential because there was no immediate threat to the public.

Investigators say Figueroa was not armed and used a note to demand money for the teller. The amount of cash taken has not been disclosed.

Bridgeport Police were assisted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, FBI, ATF, Fairmont Police, White Hall Police and the Three Rivers Task Force.

Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny says the level of response should be a message to community members and potential criminals.

Matheny said,”All the agencies that are represented here today and all the other agencies that are federal partners, state, local, here in north central West Virginia we operate very well together, so I hope that’s a message not only to the community but to the bad guys, if you come here we are a force to be reckoned with.”

Figueroa has been charged with robbery of a financial institution and several outstanding warrants from other municipalities.