Grand Jury Indicts War Veteran on Bank Robbery Charges

Already charged with robbing three banks in the area over the summer, a Wilmington resident and war veteran was indicted last week for a similar July incident in New Hampshire, according to a report.

The New Hampshire Union Leader reported that Joseph Costello, 26, was indicted by a grand jury on October 3 in Federal District Court on one charge of bank robbery after he allegedly robbed a bank located inside a Shaw's grocery store in July.

Costello also faces charges from July for robbing banks in Chelmsford, Reading and North Andover.

"I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," Costello told Judge Paul Yee at his arraignment in July. "I've had problems with drugs too."

David Timmons, Costello's attorney, told Judge Yee that Costello served in the Army in Afghanistan and was discharged after becoming injured.

"During the course of recovery and treatment from that injury, Mr. Costello was prescribed some pain medications, and unfortunately that kind of spun off into an issue regarding substance abuse. Since then Mr. Costello... is trying to reach out and get assistance for that."

According to the Union Leader report, Salem Police said Costello walked into the Shaw's around 2 p.m. on July 2, passed the Citizen's Bank teller a note that claimed he had a hostage and a bomb, and made off with a bag of money.

However, a dye pack that was inside the bag exploded when he left the store, and Costello dropped some of the money behind, according to the Union Leader.

In the days that followed, police investigated and put out alerts on Facebook and other media outlets. And a state trooper whose neice had been reportedly dating Costello told police the man in the surveillance photos looked like Costello. Another person, a Wilmington resident who claimed to have grown up with Costello, said the suspect in the North Andover and Salem, N.H., robbery photos appeared to be him as well, leading to his arrest.

Following last week's indictment, Costello is being held without bail.