Rising Sun Man Charged in 2 Harford County Bank Robberies

Less than a week after two banks were robbed in Harford County, Maryland State Police said one man has been charged and two others arrested as part of the investigation.

Joseph Scott Tiller, 35, of the 100 block of Slicers Mills Road in Rising Sun, was charged with two counts apiece of robbery; armed robbery; theft between $1,000 and $10,000; and second-degree assault, according to police.

The charges stemmed from a pair of bank robberies last week, police said.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. on June 10, a man entered the PNC Bank in the 2400 block of Whiteford Road in Whiteford, handed a bank employee a note demanding money and left with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to police.

A suspect with the same description went into the National Bank of Rising Sun in the 3500 block of Conowingo Road in Street before 3 p.m. on June 12, handed a bank employee a note identical or very similar to the one used at PNC Bank and left with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

No one was injured in either of the robberies, and the suspect did not display or imply he had a weapon, according to police.

Armed robbery charges were brought because of the contents of the note, Maryland State Police spokesman Gregory Shipley said.

"The suspect handed a note to the tellers, instructing them to turn over the money and 'no one will get hurt,'" Shipley said. "Even though he did not display a weapon, his threat of physical harm was enough to warrant the charges of armed robbery."

Through investigation aided by tips from citizens, police said authorities were able to identify Tiller as the suspect.

On Tuesday, troopers served an arrest warrant for Tiller, who was taken into custody without incident at his home, where officers executing a search warrant found a loaded handgun and drug paraphernalia, according to police.

Detectives also developed information about a Toyota van that he may have used while committing the robberies, after issuing a surveillance photo of the suspect, according to the report from police.

Investigators learned that Tiller frequented the home of two people in Rising Sun who owned a van similar to the one believed to have been used in the robberies, the report said.

State troopers served a search warrant Tuesday afternoon at the residence in the 800 block of Rising Run Road and arrested Phillip Lockett, 39, and Malissa N. Miller, 28, according to the report.

At the home of Lockett and Miller, troopers found a Toyota van believed to be the one Tiller used while committing the bank robberies, in addition to a counterfeit $20 bill, handgun and box of handgun ammunition.

Lockett and Miller were both charged with possession of counterfeit currency, illegal possession of a firearm, firearm possession by a convicted felon and illegal possession of ammunition, according to online court records. Police said the pair was taken to a Cecil County commissioner for an initial appearance.

Tiller was awaiting an appearance before a commissioner in Harford County on Wednesday, police said.

As the investigation continues, police said additional charges are possible against all three suspects.

Related:

• Police Investigate Second Bank Robbery in Harford in 3 Days
• Police Release Images of Bank Robbery Suspect