According to police, on Wednesday, at 3:48 p.m., Union Police Dispatch received a panic alarm from the TD Bank located at 995 Morris Avenue.
While officers responded to the area, a bank employee called in reporting a bank robbery and gave a description of the suspect who fled with cash.
Officials said Officer Sal Valentino was responding to the area in the midst of the snowstorm when he observed a man who matched the suspect’s description on North Avenue.
Officer Valentino tried to stop the man, but he ran into the wooded area near the east campus of Kean University.
According to authorities, Officer Valentino chased the man through the woods until he lost him near the Elizabeth River.
Officer Valentino discovered discarded clothing along the route that the man had left behind while he was running.
Police say with the help of Officers from the Elizabeth Police Department, the Union County Police Department and the Kean University Police Department, Officers set up a perimeter around the large wooded area.
Authorities said a drone from the Elizabeth Police Department the man was found hiding behind a home on Mary Alice Court, Union by Elizabeth Detectives, Alexander Gonzalez, Rui Xavier, Louis Figueiredo, Michael Nicolas & Edward Benenati.
He was arrested without further incident and a little over $500 was recovered.
The bank robber was identified as Mr. Frederick Herman, 50, from Elizabeth.
He later confessed to Detectives Robert Kiselow and Chris Lensi about this bank robbery. He also confessed to a prior bank robbery at the same bank branch in October.
Detectives are following up on that crime and anticipate charging him today for that robbery too.
The Union County Prosecutors Office approved the following charges for Herman:
1. Armed Robbery—1st degree
a. Herman presented a threatening note stating that he had a gun
2. Obstruction/Eluding
a. Running from the officers
3. Possession of prescription drugs without a valid prescription
a. Buprenorphine Hydrochloride and Naloxone Hydrochloride (Sublingual) Pills
Herman is being held at our headquarters, pending the additional charges until being sent to the Union County Jail.