Oct. 25, 2019
11:38 a.m., the Utica Police Department responded to M&T Bank on Genesee Street (downtown) for a reported robbery. When officers arrived on scene they were notified by employees that a white male suspect, later identified as Kevin V. Byng, 59, of Utica, entered the bank and demanded money from a teller. An undisclosed amount of money was taken, and the suspect fled out of the rear of the bank. A dye pack was deployed and activated once the suspect left the bank. Information was gathered from the scene along with surveillance video and witness statements.
At 12:56 p.m., while officers and investigators were working the M&T incident, Utica Police were dispatched to Price Chopper in South Utica for an attempted robbery. Officers who responded on scene spoke with store security and employees who stated that the suspect was a white male who passed a note to an employee demanding money. Once video surveillance was viewed, officers quickly identified the white male suspect as the same suspect in the M&T incident.
At 1:45 p.m., while now working the M&T robbery and the Price Chopper attempted robbery, Utica Police were dispatched to Key Bank, Genesee Street (downtown) for a robbery. A description of a white male suspect was given by dispatch to officers while in route to the bank. While conducting an area check, Utica Police Warrants Unit investigators observed a white male matching the description on Aiken Street. When investigators attempted to stop him, he fled on foot. He was taken into custody a short distance away on State Street at Aiken Street and transported to Utica Police Headquarters.
Byng was charged with third-degree robbery and third-degree attempted robbery.
No injuries were reported during any of these incidents. No weapons were displayed in any of the three incidents; Utica Police Department would like to thank officers from state Parole with their assistance in this investigation.