On the afternoon of Thursday, March 8, 2012, a man and woman robbed the TD Bank at 466 Foxon Boulevard in New Haven.
On Aug. 6, Douglas Hutchings, 40, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to robbing the bank, according to the U.S. Attorney's office, and he was sentenced on Tuesday to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hutchings handed the teller a note stating “Please just the money No gets hurt (sic).”
After the teller gave him $7,444, Hutchings ran out of the bank and entered the driver’s side of a minivan, sped off and engaged New Haven Police officers in a chase that ended when the minivan crashed in the vicinity of Hallock Street and Colombus Avenue in New Haven and burst into flames, according to police and the U.S. Attorney's office.
Hutchins and the woman were apprehended within minutes and police said they found a money bag and money in the van, according to authorities.
Hutchings and the woman were transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where they were under police guard, evaluated and treated for injuries resulting from the crash.
Hutchings has been detained since his arrest.
He has an extensive criminal history, according to the U.S. Attorney's office, including convictions for manslaughter, assault, larceny and arson.