Sgt. Jamie Velez, of Irvington, happened to see the getaway, police said.
EDISON -- A bank robbery suspect and his alleged accomplice were arrested Thursday after an alert off-duty Irvington cop happened upon the getaway, police said.
Dwight Halls, 23, of Piscataway, and Khaliah McGruder, 20, of Plainfield, are charged in connection with the robbery at the Investor's Bank in Wick Plaza.
Halls walked into the bank wearing a long dark wig and a hat around 12:15 p.m., police said. He handed the teller a note demanding cash, then jumped on the counter, scooping money into a bag, authorities allege.
Irvington Police Sgt. Jamie Velez, off duty at the time, spotted Halls running out of the bank while McGruder was waiting in a getaway car, according to police. Velez thought it appeared suspicious, so the sergeant followed the car onto Route 1 and called local dispatchers.
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Edison cops were able to follow the car and later arrest the suspects when it came to a stop. Sgt. Thomas Lacik, Officers Chris Pedana, Joseph Luistro, David Stern and Scot Sofield helped bring Halls and McGruder into custody, according to authorities. One of the occupants of the car threw a bag of cash out the window, police said.
Halls is charged with robbery, weapons possession and making terroristic threats. McGruder is charged with eluding police and conspiracy to commit robbery.
An investigation by Detectives Jeff Tierney and Sean Forker identified Halls as a suspect in the May 28 armed robbery of the same bank, police said. He's also a suspect in a July bank robbery, police said.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact police Detective Tierney at (732) 427-0472.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
