Riverhead Cops: Man Arrested for Two Bank Robberies

Riverhead Town police say they have caught a man responsible for two recent bank robberies.

John Gayles, 55, of Mastic, is charged with two counts of third-degree robbery. Police say both robberies occurred at Capital One Bank branches, the first on December 16, 2014, at 140 East Main Street in Riverhead and the second on January 6, 2015, at 1491 Main Road in Jamesport.

“In both robberies Gayles entered the bank wearing a hooded sweatshirt, gloves and sunglasses,” police said. “He handed the teller a note demanding money. He was given money and then left the bank.”

Police said Gayles became a suspect shortly after the Jamesport robbery and was taken into custody on an outstanding New York State parole warrant on January 8. He remained jailed at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility as the bank robbery investigation continued. Then on February 25 he was processed on the robbery charges. He was arraigned before Judge Allen M. Smith at Riverhead Justice Court and determined to be ineligible for bail.