Crime & Safety

Alleged Bank Robber Found

John Gunton located in Queens

The man police believe robbed a Morristown over the weekend has been located in Queens, NY, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. He's being held there pending extradition to New Jersey.

A Morristown police officer had recognized the alleged attempted robber as John B. Gunton Jr., 61, of Morristown, after viewing surveillance footage, the prosecutor's office said. Gunton was charged with one count of second-degree robbery, but was not immediately located.

On Thursday, New York Police department officers arrested him on charges of petty theft, and then discovered he was wanted in Morristown, according to the prosecutor's office.

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The man who attempted to rob the bank was originally described by police as white, between 55 and 65 years of age, about 5 feet and 7 inches tall, 170 to 180 pounds, with short white hair, and a clean-shaven appearance. He was wearing a jean trucker-style hat with a logo as well as a jean jacket with a yellow stripe down the inseam, both of which were found in a nearby garbage can, the prosecutor's office said. He was also wearing bulky-pocketed blue jeans, the office said.

The man, now believed to be Gunton, entered the bank at about 1:15 p.m, approached a teller and said he was committing a robbery, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office. But Gunton then fled on foot before obtaining any money, the prosecutor's office said.

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

No weapon was shown, the prosecutor's office said. It did not specify whether Gunton made any threats or had any interaction with bank customers.

Gunton reportedly left the bank on foot, heading on South Street to Elm Street.


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