Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Bank Robbery Suspect

Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announces that a multi-agency search had led to the arrest of a suspect wanted for two bank robberies that occurred in the City of Cranston.
On January 20, 2016, the Cranston Police Department investigated a bank robbery which occurred at the Bank Rhode Island branch located at 1047 Park Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island. During this robbery, the suspect, entered the bank and handed a note to a bank teller indicating she would be shot if she did not empty the cash register. The suspect fled on foot towards the rear of the bank.
On November 15, 2016, the Cranston Police Department investigated a bank robbery which occurred at approximately 12:35 pm at the Webster Bank, located at 1215 Park Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island. According to bank employees, the suspect entered the bank and handed a note to a bank teller indicating she would be shot if she did not empty the cash register. The suspect was wearing a pea coat style black hooded jacket, white scarf partially covering his face, jeans and loose fitting white gloves. After receiving the money, the suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction. A stolen vehicle believed to have been used by the suspect was later recovered on Sterling Avenue in the City of Providence.
The suspect was wearing what appears to be the same jacket and scarf during both bank robberies.
A press release concerning the most recent bank robbery was disseminated to the media, which included the bank surveillance photographs of the suspect. Members of the public, as well as alert Rhode Island Department of Corrections Officer, recognized the suspect who has been identified as Nicholas Loverdi, age 24, of 134 Pocasset Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island.
On November 17, 2016, at approximately 8:30pm, armed with the strength of an affidavit and arrest warrant, Cranston Police Detectives and Rhode Island State Troopers attempted to apprehend the suspect at a drug rehabilitation facility in the Town of Exeter. The suspect escaped apprehension by fleeing from the facility into a wooded area.
At approximately 10:45am this morning, a citizen reported to the Rhode Island State Police that his pickup truck containing a shotgun, rifle and ammunition, was stolen from the area of the rehabilitation facility. At approximately 1:30pm, the vehicle was found abandoned and parked on Sterling Avenue in the City of Providence, which is in close proximity to the suspect’s residence. Shortly thereafter, members of the Cranston Police Department, Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Providence Police Department conducted a search of 134 Pocasset Avenue and found the suspect hiding in a closet and placed him in custody without incident.
Mr. Loverdi will be arraigned this evening at Cranston Police Headquarters on the charge of 2nd Degree Robbery (two counts). The Rhode Island State Police will also arraign Mr. Loverdi on the charge of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.