Trenton man who police believe robbed bank to pay for engagement ring indicted

A Trenton man has been indicted for December robberies in two Butler County cities.

Dustin F. Pedersen, 36, was indicted today on two counts of robbery, a second-degree felony. He is accused of robbing the Fifth Third Bank in Trenton on Dec. 16. According to Trenton police, he presented his girlfriend with an engagement ring the next day. Police believe that could be a motive for the robbery.

Pedersen was also indicted on the same charge for allegedly robbing the US Bank on Tylers Place Boulevard in West Chester Twp. on Dec. 22.

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During a court hearing last month in Middletown Municipal Court, Trenton Detective Sean Gill said records from Zales jewelry store indicate that Pedersen purchased a ring worth just under $4,500 less than an hour after the Dec. 16 robbery.

The robber walked into the bank and began pacing, according to witnesses Gill talked with. He was wearing glasses, a jacket, white gloves and an orange Titleist hat.

“He passed a note asking for $20,000 with no dye packs,” Gill said. He also indicated he had a bomb strapped to himself.

As the teller counted out the money, the robber grabbed the first stack and ran, Gill said. He got $8,800.

Pedersen was not developed as a suspect until the Dec. 22 bank robbery of US Bank on Tylers Place Boulevard, Gill said. He received a call from a woman who said Pedersen was on Facebook wearing hats that the robber in both heists had on.

A neighbor’s outdoor security cameras caught Pedersen leaving the residence on the morning of Dec. 16 wearing the same clothing as the robber.

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Found in a car driven by Pedersen were the sunglasses, gloves and hats police believe he wore in the robberies, Gill said.

Pedersen remains housed in the Butler County Jail on $250,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 20 by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster.

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