Bradenton man, Sarasota man charged in connection to recent bank robberies

SARASOTA -- A Bradenton man and a Sarasota man are each facing charges after investigators connected them recent to recent robberies of a SunTrust bank in Sarasota, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Jason Rezendez, 40, is charged with two counts of armed robbery and eight counts of kidnapping. Cain is charged with one count of armed robbery and six counts of kidnapping, according to a news release. Eric Cain, 36, is charged with one count of armed robbery and six counts of kidnapping.

Both men are being held at the Manatee County jail without bond.

Detectives first linked Rezendez to the March 15 and April 8 bank robberies of the SunTrust bank at 4981 Ringwood Meadow in Sarasota after his April 27 arrest for an unrelated grand theft charge. A search of his vehicles in that investigation led to the discovery of zip ties, gloves and sunglasses that matched the equipment and clothing worn during both robberies, according to the release.

Detectives investigated further and were able to connect Cain to the March 15 bank robbery.

Witnesses had told investigators that on March 15 two suspects had entered the SunTrust and zip tied the doors shut, brandished a weapon and demanded money from a teller. Later they reportedly fled in a black BMW.

On April 8, when the bank was robbed again it was by a single suspect who matched the description of one the two suspects in the previous robbery.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Bradenton man, Sarasota man charged in connection to recent bank robberies ."