Man who led police on 2-county chase charged with 2nd bank robbery, troopers say

Andrew bell

Police arrested Andrew Bell, 32, after a traffic pursuit on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. (Courtesy State Police)

Brewerton, N.Y. — A man who led police on a chase through Onondaga and Oswego counties has been charged with a second bank robbery, troopers said Thursday.

Andrew Bell, 32, of Liverpool, was arrested Wednesday after leading police on a pursuit from Brewerton up toward Pulaski, back down to Central Square and into Onondaga County where he was stopped, according North Syracuse Police Chief William Becker.

Bell was charged with robbing the Solvay Bank in North Syracuse on Tuesday, police said.

He was later charged with robbing the NBT Bank in Lysander on July 22, troopers said Thursday

State Police and North Syracuse police made public security footage of the person who robbed each bank.

Many tips came in and police were able to identify him, Becker said.

On Wednesday, a Cicero police officer spotted Bell’s car, a Prius, at a park in Brewerton, Becker said. Bell took off and officers started to follow him, Becker said.

“It took us a little bit everywhere,” Becker said.

Bell drove up to Pulaski in Oswego County then down to Central Square, the chief said. He then returned to Onondaga County. Bell took Route 31 to Henry Clay Boulevard, and then onto Verplank Road, when an Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office deputy deployed stop sticks to deflate the tires of Bell’s car, troopers said.

The car came to a stop at Caughdenoy and Mudmill roads once all four tires were deflated to the rims, Becker said.

The chase ended up involving multiple agencies: State Police, North Syracuse, Cicero, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office (Air 1 helicopter) and the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office.

Related article: See capture of man after chase who police say robbed Central NY bank (video)

Bell was taken to the Onondaga County Justice Center where he was held without bail.

He was charged with:

  • 2 counts of third-degree robbery
  • Second-degree assault
  • Third-degree Unlawful fleeing a police officer 3rd degree
  • Second-degree reckless endangerment
  • Numerous vehicle & traffic violations
  • Petit larceny

Bell has previously robbed the Hercules Candy Company in 2015, according to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard records.

When police found him after the robbery he had six envelopes of heroin, a hypodermic needle and two doses of Suboxone, police said at the time. Bell admitted to police that he had used the heroin in front of a four-year-old relative.

He was sentenced to up to seven years in state prison, according to county records.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.

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