Three local charged with bank robbery

By Paula Killough

LUDLOW - Springfield police have arrested three suspects in connection with a bank robbery

and an attempted bank robbery that occurred in Ludlow and Springfield last week.

According to Ludlow Police Det. Sgt. Thomas Foye, Jeffrey Srodulski, 27, of 53 Bacon Road Warren, Chazere Gallagher, 22, of 29 East Main St., West Brookfield, and her husband, Randy Gallagher, 24, also of 29 East Main St., West Brookfield, were arrested last Friday, June 11 and charged with unarmed robbery.

Foye said the three suspects were apprehended in Ludlow after Srodulski attempted to rob the Bank of Western Massachusetts, located at 1360 Boston Road, Springfield, last Friday. Foye said Srodulski entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash. The teller did not comply; instead, she “threw a cup of water in his face,” said Foye. Srodulski asked the teller for the note, but she refused to return it. Srodulski left the bank, and the teller followed him out to the parking lot, where an off duty Springfield detective witnessed the teller chasing Srodulski. The detective saw Srodulski enter a vehicle, a 1995 Ford Escort registered to Chazere Gallagher. The detective followed the vehicle into Ludlow, where it was stopped, and the suspects were apprehended by Ludlow and Springfield police.

In addition to the suspects, Chazere Gallagher’s two small children were found in the vehicle, Foye said.

The suspects were questioned at the Springfield Police Department, where Srodulski and Chazere Gallagher confessed to the Springfield bank robbery and a robbery that took place the day before, Thursday, June 10, at the Chicopee Savings Bank, located at 477 Center St., in Ludlow. Srodulski fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, Foye said.

During questioning, the two suspects implicated Randy Gallagher who will be charged with unarmed robbery under joint venture, said Foye.

Foye said police recovered clothing worn by Srodulski during the Ludlow robbery at his mother’s residence.

“He was brought there at some point later in the evening and dropped off,” said Foye. “Police responded to the house, and the mother consented to a search.”

Police located the hooded sweatshirt Srodulski was wearing during the Ludlow robbery, Foye said.

The suspects were held at the Springfield Police Department and were arraigned in Springfield District Court on Monday.