Good Samaritan Helps Police Catch Fullerton Bank Robbery Suspect

An Owings Mills man accused of robbing a Fullerton bank at knifepoint Thursday quickly surrendered to police after a witness followed him for miles and provided police enough information to identify the suspect. 

John Martin Lynch, 51, of Owings Mills turned himself in to Baltimore County police in Parkville at around 6 p.m. Thursday, six hours after he was accused of robbing the M&T Bank at 7604 Belair Road.

According to police, Lynch entered the bank wearing a mask at around 12:15 p.m., threatened to harm a bank employee with a kitchen knife and demanded cash. 

Lynch was given an undisclosed amount of money and fled the bank in a silver vehicle, said Lt. Robert McCullough, a police spokesman.

That's where the witness comes in.

The witness followed Lynch as he drove on I-695, I-95 and, eventually, into Baltimore City. 

In the city the witness lost track of Lynch but was able to give police the license plate number and a description of the suspect, who had been wearing a hooded sweatshirt and mask during the robbery.

From that point, police identified the suspect as Lynch.

Fearing that police were looking for him, Lynch surrendered to police at the Parkville princinct on Old Harford Road at around 6 p.m. on Thursday, said McCullough.

Lynch is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center. His request for bail was denied.