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The Connecticut woman accused of holding up six banks in six days in three states, was arraigned this morning. Inside, Norwich Superior Court, suspect Heather Brown stood before the judge to be formally charged in the first case of the alleged crime spree: a robbery at Citizens Bank in Montville.
In court, prosecutors mentioned her 24 prior arrests, 9 felonies and 13 failure to appear charges, and urged the judge to make sure bail would be difficult.
Brown is already on probation for a 2006 bank robbery in Groton. A friend of hers, John Ruley, said he recognized her immediately from the very first surveillance picture that was released.
"I knew her for a long time when she was on the street. I knew her habit," Ruley cried."I knew her habits and I just couldn't help her. I tried."
According to the affadavit, Brown's mother also recognized the surveillance picture and told police it was her daughter.
Ruley believes his friend was motivated by a crack cocaine habit, and said he lost his friend to drugs.
"She had a habit, a bad habit," he said. "A thousand dollars a day."
He suspects, that is where the money went. But the affadavit sheds new light on how the alleged crime spree began.
According to the affadavit, Brown walked into the Dime Savings Bank, ten minutes before police say she robbed the Citizens Bank.
"The female was carrying a black bag and walked to the counter and was believed to be writing on a withdraw slip. The female appeared to be fidgety and was agitated an then left the bank."
Ten minutes later, police say Brown robbed the Citizens Bank one mile south... carrying that same big black bag, handing the teller a note that read:
"There is a bomb in this bag do not alert anyone or we will all die. give me 600 cash"
Police say that was her modus opperandi in the five robberies that followed... as well as the Groton bank robbery that sent her to jail in 2006.
Duley believes she *wanted* to get caught... all this was a cry for help.
"Day after day after day," Duley said. "Nobody's that stupid, she's definitely not that stupid." "She's a really good person... kind, caring. Giving. This ain't her. This ain't her."
Brown's due back in court on October 20. Her bail is set at $250,000.
In court, prosecutors mentioned her 24 prior arrests, 9 felonies and 13 failure to appear charges, and urged the judge to make sure bail would be difficult.
Brown is already on probation for a 2006 bank robbery in Groton. A friend of hers, John Ruley, said he recognized her immediately from the very first surveillance picture that was released.
"I knew her for a long time when she was on the street. I knew her habit," Ruley cried."I knew her habits and I just couldn't help her. I tried."
According to the affadavit, Brown's mother also recognized the surveillance picture and told police it was her daughter.
Ruley believes his friend was motivated by a crack cocaine habit, and said he lost his friend to drugs.
"She had a habit, a bad habit," he said. "A thousand dollars a day."
He suspects, that is where the money went. But the affadavit sheds new light on how the alleged crime spree began.
According to the affadavit, Brown walked into the Dime Savings Bank, ten minutes before police say she robbed the Citizens Bank.
"The female was carrying a black bag and walked to the counter and was believed to be writing on a withdraw slip. The female appeared to be fidgety and was agitated an then left the bank."
Ten minutes later, police say Brown robbed the Citizens Bank one mile south... carrying that same big black bag, handing the teller a note that read:
"There is a bomb in this bag do not alert anyone or we will all die. give me 600 cash"
Police say that was her modus opperandi in the five robberies that followed... as well as the Groton bank robbery that sent her to jail in 2006.
Duley believes she *wanted* to get caught... all this was a cry for help.
"Day after day after day," Duley said. "Nobody's that stupid, she's definitely not that stupid." "She's a really good person... kind, caring. Giving. This ain't her. This ain't her."
Brown's due back in court on October 20. Her bail is set at $250,000.
