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Two arrested in Parkersburg bank robbery

Photo by Jeff Baughan The Peoples Bank at 3411 Emerson Ave. in Parkersburg was robbed Monday at 2:30 p.m.

PARKERSBURG — William B. Hebden, 36, of 3505 Elm St., Parkersburg, and Bradley W. Oxendine, 39, of 3915 Polk Drive, Hope Mills, N.C., were arrested Monday night in Baltimore following an afternoon bank robbery in Parkersburg, said Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin.

The Parkersburg Police responded to Peoples Bank at 3411 Emerson Ave. in reference to an armed robbery at 2:30 p.m. Monday, said Martin.

Uniformed officers secured the bank and started to search the area to obtain additional information and identify witnesses. Detectives also arrived to process the crime scene, said Martin.

According to witnesses, Oxendine and Hebden entered the bank and Oxendine pulled out a hand gun and demanded cash from a bank employee, Martin said.

Once the teller gave the suspects an undisclosed amount of money, they fled the bank through a side door, said Martin.

Photo by Jeff Baughan Lt. G. Nangle, left, and Detective D. Sturm of the Parkersburg Police Department check for evidence or clues in the armed bank robbery Monday at Peoples Bank, 3411 Emerson Ave.

The two suspects then got into a white extended cab Ford F150 with North Carolina license plates “EF2418” and traveled east on 36th Street, Martin said.

The Parkersburg Police Department obtained warrants for the two suspects who were allegedly involved in the robbery, said Martin.

After police detectives conducted interviews with the witnesses, they were able to broadcast the suspects’ vehicle, Martin said. Detectives worked with investigators in Hope Mills Police Department, in North Carolina, and with investigators from the  Baltimore County Police Department, in Maryland, to locate both suspects at a CVS Pharmacy in Baltimore, said Martin. The suspects were arrested at 8:40 p.m.

Parkersburg Police Department detectives used technology and social media to find Oxendine and Hebden, said Martin.

“Communication between with Baltimore County Police Department and Parkersburg Police Department was crucial to locate and capture the two in a CVS parking lot,” Martin said.

Investigators located Oxendine and Hebden’s vehicle and an undisclosed amount of money believed to be taken from the Parkersburg bank at the time they were arrested, said Martin.

Oxendine and Hebden were in custody in Maryland Monday night and will remain incarcerated until they are extradited to West Virginia, Martin said. Both are charged with first-degree robbery.

“This case was solved very quickly and efficiently due to the dedication and professionalism of the officers of the Parkersburg Police Department,” said Martin.

“Uniformed officers did an outstanding job at the crime scene and were able to identify a key witness to this case,” said Martin.

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