Ryan	Butterworth

CALLICOON – Two men, one of whom is on federal parole for committing six previous bank robberies, are under arrest and charged with holding up the Bank of America branch on Main Street in Callicoon Friday morning.

One of the men, John Ryan, 58, of Cos Cob, CT, wearing a Bill Clinton mask, entered the bank at 8:30 a.m. with the manager, and told her he had a bomb in his bag and would detonate it if she didn’t give him money.

They went into the vault and he fled with $75,000 in cash. The bomb turned out to be a hoax.

Ryan, who is on parole, jumped into a waiting car driven by Scott Butterworth, 58, of Southport, CT. They took off and about an hour later, an astute state trooper spotted them, said State Police Captain Wayne Olson.

Shortly before 10 a.m., Trooper David Diverly spotted the car on Route 52 in the Town of Shawangunk. Shawangunk and Town of Crawford Police were called in. the suspect car was stopped and the two men were arrested as they attempted to return to Connecticut.

The robbers were charged with grand larceny in the second degree and robbery in the third degree. Police expect to recover evidence including the mask and cash.

Both men were arraigned and have been remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Liberty State Police at 845-292-6600. All calls will be kept confidential.