York, Maine Bank Robber Flees Police in Salisbury, Mass

A white van allegedly used in a bank robbery Monday morning in York was found in Salisbury in the afternoon but its driver is on the run.[

York Police said a man robbed the Bangor Savings Bank branch on Route 1 around 10:20 a.m. and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash before police arrived. He left the bank in a white utility type van with New Hampshire plates.

The robber is described as approximately 6’ tall with a thin build, wearing jeans, a dark hoodie sweatshirt, a dark mask, a ski hat and gloves. He did not show a weapon during the robbery.

Spotted Several Hours Later

Just before 5 p.m. a Salisbury police officer approached a van that looked like the one used in the York robbery. The driver, identified as Brandon Simmons, 34, of Seabrook, hit the officer in the face and tried to leave, according to police.

The officer unsuccessfully tried to keep the van in park and Simmons sped off and headed north on North End Boulevard. Salisbury police said their officers along with Seabrook and Massachusetts State Police pursued the van back into Salisbury but broke off the chase on Elm Street because it was unsafe.

Simmons hit another vehicle at the intersection of Gardener Street and ran into an adjacent neighborhood, according to Salisbury Police. Several law enforcement agencies are searching for Simmons on land and from the air.

Simmons is believed to have robbed a bank in Newburyport on Saturday, according to Salisbury Police.

York Police asked anyone with information about Simmons' whereabouts to call 207-363-1031. Seacoast Crime Stoppers has also put up a $1,000 reward for help solving cases if the information leads to the arrest or indictment of a suspect(s).

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH