People help police nab bank robbery suspect

WARREN — Police can again thank the public for their help in catching a man accused of robbing the First Place Bank branch in the Warren Plaza Friday morning.

Sgt. Jeff Cole of the Warren Police Department said the department received more than one call from the public after a photo from the surveillance cameras at the bank were shown to the public Friday night through the news media.

The picture showed a man wearing a winter coat and stocking cap but his face uncovered.

Callers told police who they thought the robber was, Cole said. It helped police identify the accused robber and arrest Joe Rien, 41, of Washington Street Northwest, at about 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Cole filed a charge of aggravated robbery against Rien this morning in Warren Municipal Court, where he is expected to be arraigned this afternoon. He remains in Trumbull County Jail.

Police said a man walked into the bank at about 9:50 a.m. Friday, handed a teller a note, received money and walked out. A witness said he got into a tan-colored Oldsmobile and drove off.

Police later confiscated a tan-colored Oldsmobile Ciera in connection with the robbery and analyzed it for evidence.