An area man has been arrested and charged with the armed robbery of a Bank of America branch, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.

Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 50, of Wall, has been charged with one count of first-degree armed robbery, one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of fourth-degree possession of hollow point bullets stemming from the Wall robbery.

The case background …

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 3:24 p.m., Wall police were dispatched to a Bank of America branch located on Route 35 for a reported robbery.

Upon arrival, police learned that a man wearing a mask, glasses, ball cap, black hoodie and gloves had entered the bank, brandished a firearm and stole a large amount of cash, in excess of $5,000, prior to fleeing the scene.

An off-duty Wall police officer was driving in the vicinity of the bank when he learned of the robbery. As the officer proceeded toward the bank, he observed a male matching the description of the suspect riding a bicycle. The officer followed the suspect, later identified as Kniffin, to the front of his home on M Street. He was arrested there.

Kniffin was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), where he is currently being held pending his initial appearance in Monmouth County Superior Court.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

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