Bethlehem police have arrested the alleged robber of the Pioneer Bank on Delaware Avenue from earlier this month, after he visited the bank.
Police have arrested Jesse Odum, 28, of Maryland on Tuesday, May 26. As a result of today’s arrest and the investigation, Odum was found to be in possession of a robbery note. He was charged with two felony counts of attempted robbery in the third degree for his actions.
Police said today around 9:38 a.m. the Bethlehem Police Department received a call from the Pioneer Bank at 184 Delaware Ave. in Delmar, reporting a suspicious person who had entered their bank and was dressed in a manner to disguise his identity. It was reported that the male subject had left the bank. Members of the Bethlehem Police Department arrived on the scene and located a subject matching the description given by bank employees, exiting the Citizen’s Bank in Delaware Plaza and walking towards a wooded area behind the plaza. Officials said the subject was immediately recognized by police as Odum.
Odum is known to Bethlehem Police and was currently being sought on an active arrest warrant for his role in the May 2, bank robbery at the same Pioneer Bank. Odum was detained pursuant to the warrant. Bethlehem Police had previously identified Odum as being responsible for this robbery and a warrant for his arrest had been issued on May 8. Bethlehem Police and subsequently teamed with FBI agents from the Albany office and a Federal Arrest Warrant for Bank Robbery was issued for Odum.
Odum was arraigned in the Town of Bethlehem Court by the Honorable Judge Andrew Kirby. Odum was remanded to the Albany County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to return to Town Court on May 29 at 9 a.m.. for a preliminary hearing. The quick actions of bank employees and police response on today’s date helped prevent further bank robberies in the Town of Bethlehem. The investigation is continuing by Bethlehem Police and the Albany FBI office. In the initial robbery investigation on May 2, Bethlehem Police were also assisted by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
