Suspect Charged for Bank Robbery in Grocery Store

Image: James John Scotto (PWCPD)

An anonymous tip led police detectives to the suspect in a July 2 robbery of a bank inside a Giant grocery store in Lake Ridge, the Prince William County police announced Thursday.

The suspect, James John Scotto, 26, of no fixed address, had been arrested July 17 and jailed at the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center on an unrelated matter, the police said. With the help of the anonymous tip, the detectives connected Scotto to the robbery of the PNC Bank, obtained warrants for his arrest and served him at the regional jail.

Scotto was charged with robbery, entering a bank with intent to commit a larceny and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, according to a police report. He’s being held without bond, and his next date in court is Sept. 23.

The midday robbery took place inside the Giant store at 12445 Hedges Run Drive, in the Lake Ridge Commons shopping center. The Prince William police responded at 12:08 p.m., and an employee told them that an unknown man had approached the bank area, displayed a handgun and demanded money.

The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing on foot to the rear of the grocery store. The police searched the area with a K-9 unit (an officer with a trained dog), but they didn’t find him.