In an alarming incident at the Citizens Bank on Charles Street in North Providence earlier this week, a 62-year-old woman was violently robbed while making a deposit for her employer. Following the incident, Warwick police arrested a 60-year-old man, Joshua McCullough, on Thursday morning, charging him with first-degree robbery and felony assault.

According to the North Providence Police, McCullough allegedly attacked the victim, punching her in the chest before snatching a deposit bag containing $12,665 and fleeing in his car. However, the victim fought back fiercely, knocking off McCullough's reading glasses in the process. These glasses were later recovered from the woman's car, according to court documents obtained by Target 12.

Undeterred, the brave victim pursued the suspect, chasing him across the street to a nearby business. However, McCullough tried to escape, prompting the victim to attempt to retrieve the stolen money by opening his car door. Tragically, McCullough reversed his vehicle quickly, causing the victim to become trapped between the door and the vehicle frame. She was dragged a short distance before managing to free herself.

Police were able to gather critical evidence from surveillance cameras of a nearby business, capturing video footage of the robbery. The suspect's car was notably distinguished by an American flag bumper sticker and "chrome after-market roof racks," which aided in locating him. Working in conjunction with Providence Police and Flock cameras, authorities successfully located McCullough, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant on Wednesday.

Executing a search warrant on Thursday morning, law enforcement agencies, including the Warwick Police, R.I. State Police, and East Providence Police SWAT teams, searched McCullough's residence and vehicle. The police affidavit revealed that a photo retrieved from the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) showed McCullough wearing the same half-frame Armani Exchange reading glasses recovered from the robbery scene.

McCullough, also known as Terrell Muhammad, has a lengthy criminal history. In 1993, while in police custody for suspected theft, he fatally shot Boston police officer Thomas Rose, resulting in a murder charge and a prison sentence of 26-30 years. However, he was released in 2009 after serving 15 years. Additionally, McCullough was previously convicted of manslaughter in 1986 for a shooting death in Dorchester, serving approximately six years for that crime.

On Thursday morning, McCullough faced arraignment at Kent County District Court, where he was ordered to be held without bail. No plea was entered, and the case will be referred to a grand jury for further proceedings.

Joshua McCullough's arrest serves as a reminder of the importance of swift apprehension and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in maintaining public safety and bringing perpetrators to justice.