2 suspects arrested in bank robbery

They are responsible for a holdup at a Holiday bank two weeks ago, authorities say.

By MARY CARMICHAEL

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 21, 2000

Two masked men walked into the First South Bank in Holiday on June 6, jumped over the counter, grabbed some cash and fled in a car, deputies said.

The suspects were unmasked on Monday, authorities say. Daniel Aaron Sigafoos, 24, of 5432 Cheri Court in New Port Richey made it all the way to New Jersey and back to Pasco before he was caught, said Pasco County sheriff's spokesman Jon Powers. The man accused of being his accomplice, 16-year-old Wilfredo Ortiz Jr. of 5612 Mallow St. in New Port Richey, is awaiting extradition from Pennsylvania. Sigafoos charged with strong-arm robbery. He is being held at the Land O'Lakes jail on $200,000 bail. Deputies originally had a false start on the trail leading to the suspects, Powers said. An off-duty Tarpon Springs policeman who was at the bank during the robbery chased Sigafoos and Ortiz for a few minutes, Powers said. He didn't catch them, but he did get a tag number for the getaway car, Powers said.

The tag turned out to be stolen, Powers said, and the trail ended.

Pasco sheriff's deputies picked it up again the next day, Powers said, when they found the car in woods about 500 yards from the Holiday Recreation Center. It belonged to a relative of Sigafoos.

Sigafoos has a long arrest record, according to court records. He was convicted of arson in 1995 and grand theft, vending goods with a counterfeit label, prowling and fraud in 1997.

Deputies arrested him Tuesday when he returned to Pasco after spending two weeks with family and friends in New Jersey, Powers said.

They still are waiting for Ortiz, who was picked up on the Pasco warrant on Thursday in Reading, Pa., where he was staying with relatives, Powers said.

Powers said that if Ortiz does not waive his extradition rights, he should arrive in Pasco County soon.

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