Pair Charged in Parsippany Bank Robbery Following Springfield Tip

A pair from Newark were arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and terroristic threats, including the robbery of a Parsippany bank two days before Christmas.

The arrests of Avery Spotswood, 43, and Quiama S. Harris, 29, were announced on Friday by Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park, Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps, Federal Bureau of Investigations Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, Springfield Police Chief John Cook and Newark Police Department Director Samuel A. DeMaio.

Spotswood was charged with robbery in the first degree; conspiracy to commit robbery in the second degree; and terroristic threats in the third degree. Harris was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery in the second degree, according to a release.

Around 1:36 p.m. on Monday, a man entered Santander Bank at 239 Littleton Road in Parsippany. Later identified as Spotswood, he approached the teller and allegedly handed her a handwritten note which read, “Don’t Move! I have a Bomb. Nobody is safe until I am. No dye packs no tracers. Put all cash in this bag.” The teller placed money into the Spotswood's bag and he fled the bank on foot, according to Knapp.

Members of the Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office got still photos from the bank which showed Spotswood committing the robbery. Later police investigation confirmed that the man was Spotswood, according to Knapp.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Detective Joseph Puso put out a “Critical Reach Notification” to all law enforcement agencies in New Jersey describing the robbery, including the the note and still images. In response, police learned of a similar recent incident in Springfield, according to Knapp.

Detective James Mirabile of the Springfield Police Department informed Puso that he had information from a license plate of a car, which was in the area of the Springfield bank robbery, which may have been related to the incident in Parsippany. The vehicle registrant was identified as Quiama S. Harris, according to Knapp. 

Puso and Detective Supervisor Matthew Potter of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Major Crimes Unit got information that a black female went into the Santander bank before the robbery. Later identified by authorities as Harris, the woman asked various banking questions, but she did not make a deposit or conduct any other business. Still images from the Santander Bank showed the woman who police were later able to identify as Harris.

Police learned that the pair were working collaboratively to commit the Parsippany bank robbery.

Spotswood and Harris were arrested by members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI Newark Division, the Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Department and the Springfield Police Department.

Judge Mary Gibbons Whipple set bail for Spotswood at $200,000 with no 10 percent option. Judge Whipple set bail for Harris at $100,000 with no 10 percent option. Both were unable to post bail and are at the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information relating to these charges is urged to contact the Parsippany Troy Hills Police Department at 973-263-4300 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285- 6200.

Acting Prosecutor Fredric Knapp thanked the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Department, the Springfield Police Department, the FBI Newark Division, the Newark Police Department and the members of the Morris County Prosecutor’sOffice Major Crimes Unit whose efforts contributed to these arrests.