Man wanted for bank robberies in Washington and North Strabane arrested near New York City

A West Virginia man accused of robbing banks in Washington and North Strabane was arrested near New York City, police said.

Brandon Scerri, 29, of Wellsburg, was taken into custody after allegedly robbing a bank in New York, according to Facebook posts Thursday from the Washington and North Strabane police departments. Neither agency provided information on when the New York robbery occurred, where the bank was located or when Scerri was arrested.

Scerri was wanted in connection with the robberies of the Washington Financial Bank on East Wylie Avenue on June 3 and the First National Bank on Route 19 in North Strabane on June 5. In connection with the North Strabane robbery, Scerri and a companion, Kayla Pruett, 28, also of Wellsburg, were charged with several counts of robbery. Pruett was also arrested in New York, according to police. Pruett has not yet been charged in connection with the Washington robbery.

Scerri will be extradited to Pennsylvania pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings in New York.

Police were called to Washington Financial Bank on June 3 after the suspect, wearing a black surgical mask and black hoodie, allegedly handed a teller a note saying he had a gun and that “nobody in the bank goes home unless they get money.” Unsatisfied with only getting $155, the robber demanded to see a teller’s cash drawer and was told to open a door, not push it, as he left the bank, according to the criminal complaint.

According to court documents, Scerri stole $7,450 from the North Strabane Bank. After the robbery, Scerri and Pruett shopped at a Walgreens in Canonsburg and ate at a KFC restaurant, police said.