Queens Man Arrested for Attempted Robbery in Merrick

A Queens man was arrested on Monday for an attempted robbery that occurred in Merrick, police said.  

According to police, John Graham, 31, entered TD Bank at 2260 Merrick Road around 12:20 p.m. and was observed by bank employees acting suspiciously. Graham then left the bank a short time later without conducting any banking transactions.

Bank employees, who were aware of a bank robbery that occurred a short time earlier in the Merrick that day, believed that Graham may have fit the description of the subject involved in the incident.

When employees saw Graham enter a silver Toyota Yaris they contacted police.

Authorities found Graham driving his car on Sunrise Highway in Freeport and stopped him on the exit ramp of the Southern State Parkway at Nassau Road in Roosevelt. 

An investigation at the scene revealed that Graham had intended to conduct a robbery at the bank. He was then placed under arrest without incident, police said. 

A further investigation disclosed that Graham was responsible for bank robberies that occurred on Dec. 4, 2013 at TD Bank on 275 W. Merrick Road in Valley Stream and at Dime Savings Bank on 175 W. Merrick Road in Valley Stream on Dec. 10, 2013.

Graham was charged with third-degree robbery and two counts of third-degree attempted robbery.