Bank-robbery suspect stands down to police

LYNN – The suspect who allegedly robbed Eastern Bank Tuesday, saying he was carrying a bomb, surrendered peacefully Wednesday morning after barricading himself inside his home and prompting a nearly two-hour standoff with police.”Officers spent a good hour and a half on phone with him,” Lt. Rick Donnelly said. “State Police were on scene in case we had to do an entry, but we got him to give himself up.”The State Police bomb squad swept the building where the incident occurred and deemed it safe, Donnelly said.Lynn Police reported that Eastern Bank on Market Street was robbed at approximately 11:45 a.m. Tuesday by a man who told tellers he was carrying a bomb. Police released a photo of the suspect and described him as a white male between 30 and 40 years old who was clean-shaven and wearing a dark colored jacket and jeans.Donnelly said that officers received several tips via social media to the identity of the suspect. A detective on duty on Lewis Street spotted the suspect, identified as Steven Durbano, 42, of 200 Lewis St., at approximately 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.When the detective approached, Durbano fled and barricaded himself inside his home at 200 Lewis St. #1, Donnelly said. Police shut down the street and called in the State Police bomb squad and SWAT team in case police needed to storm the apartment, Donnelly said. Other residents of the apartment building were evacuated, and the nearby Brickett Elementary School locked its doors and wouldn’t allow anybody to come in or leave. Classes remained on schedule, however, Donnelly said.Meanwhile, Lynn Police Lt. Tom Reddy and Sgt. Ted Cusack spoke with Durbano via phone and convinced him to surrender himself.Durbano surrendered peacefully and will be charged with armed robbery; disorderly conduct; resisting arrest; intimidating to steal from deposit; and a habitual criminal.He is held in Lynn Police’s custody, and Durbano is expected to be arraigned today in Lynn District Court.