Alleged Bank Robber Arraigned in Superior Court
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Robert A. Bywaters, 54, of Union Street, Schenectady, N.Y., had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed robbery while masked, armed assault with intent to murder and possession of an infernal machine and four counts each of armed assault with intent to rob, kidnapping and intimidation to steal from a depository.
Judge John J. Agostini ordered Bywaters continue to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $500,000 cash or $5 million surety bail. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to life imprisonment.
Bywaters allegedly took $32,000 from the Hoosac Bank on May 23 after threatening and holding hostage several tellers but barely made it out the bank's front door before police jumped him and took him into custody. Officers had to use a taser to subdue him.
Police say he threatened four bank employees with a fake gun and held them in an office shortly after entering the bank around 3 p.m. One of the workers was able to contact authorities when sent to get the cash. Other employees also apparently tripped alarms.
The robbery attempt shut down Main Street in North Adams from late afternoon until nearly midnight after the suspect dropped a package outside the bank believed to be military-grade explosives. The state police bomb squad was called to investigate and dispose of the device. Bywaters' van, left at the Big Y parking lot north of Main Street was cordoned off and searched.
Bywaters has a host of aliases, according to court documents, including Eugene Albert Hein, Robert Allen Bywater, Robert Albert Bywaters, Robert A. Harrison, Gene Hein, Bob Johnson, A. Hein Robert, Robert Alan Bywaters, Bob Bywaters, Robert Harrisson and various versions of Bywater/Bywaters.
The investigation was conducted by members of the North Adams Police Department.
