Leominster woman arrested for driving suspect to Santander Bank robbery

LEOMINSTER — On January 16, 2025, Detective Michael Kochanski, who was assigned to the Leominster Police Criminal Investigations Bureau, continued his investigation into the robbery at Santander Bank, located at 11 Park Street, which took place on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Detective Kochanski and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“During the investigation, Detective Sergeant James Marois was able to identify the vehicle involved in the robbery by watching all the video surveillance and he was able to say it was an early 2000s Pontiac Vibe blue in color vehicle,” Det. Kochanski said.  “I then checked the RMV, and it listed a couple of Pontiac Vibes that still had active registrations. One of the Pontiac Vibes listed on the sheet came back to 253 Grove Avenue, Leominster, MA.”

Det. Kochanski noted that the address at 253 Grove Avenue stood out to him because the main suspect in the bank robbery, Dennis Lopez, had a listed address on his Board of Probation record of 253 Grove Avenue, Leominster, MA.

Dennis Lopez, 38, of Fitchburg, was arrested on around Jan. 23, 2025, for masked armed robbery in connection with the robbery of the Santander Bank on Park Street after he was caught on surveillance footage in the act, wearing a pink medical mask, a green jacket, and black hat with a “CAT” logo on it.

More: Suspect in Leominster bank robbery arrested in Fitchburg

“Det. Sgt. Marois and Det. [Jonathon] Monahan investigated this address in more depth, and it came back that Det. Monahan was contacted by Melissa Ramos [who] is the wife of the owner of the vehicle, Luis Ramos,” Det. Kochanski said. “Det. Monahan stated that Melissa was trying to get a friend of hers, Dennis Lopez, to become a confidential informant. Det. Monahan had conversations with Melissa after April because she was trying to give him information about drug dealing going on in the Leominster/Fitchburg area.”

According to police, Melissa M. Ramos, 37, is a resident of 253 Grove Ave, Leominster, MA.

Det. Kochanski stated that, throughout the investigation, Det. Monahan discovered that Dennis Lopez had been incarcerated at the Worcester County House of Corrections during the previous fall and was released in November. Det. Monahan also learned that, during this time, Dennis Lopez contacted Melissa Ramos on her cell phone over a hundred times.

“There was an incident shortly after Dennis getting released at 253 Grove Avenue in Leominster when he showed up around 12:00-12:30 a.m.,” Det. Kochanski said. “Dennis showed up at the residence in an attempt to speak with Luis about Melissa having an affair. Dennis never was able to discuss the matter because the police were called.”

According to Det. Kochanski, during the encounter with Leominster police, Dennis told the officers that he was trying to tell Luis and Melissa “about Shawn Heywood being in ICU.”

“Luis issued a no trespass order on Dennis Lopez and told him not to return,” Det. Kochanski said. “With this information, the investigation focused on Melissa Ramos, her relationship with Dennis Lopez, and her involvement in the robbery.”

On Thursday January 16, 2025, Det. Kochanski said that he – along with members of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force – headed into the Fitchburg area in an attempt to locate the Pontiac Vibe, Melissa Ramos, and Dennis Lopez.

“While the day went on, the vehicle was discovered in the parking garage on Putnam Street in Fitchburg,” Det. Kochanski said. “There were no sightings of Dennis or Melissa, and then Det. Monahan told me that he had contacted Luis Ramos, Melissa’s husband and registered owner of the vehicle. Luis told Det. Monahan that he was more than willing to meet with us.”

Det. Kochanski said that he – along with Det. Sgt. Marois and Det. Monahan – met with Luis Ramos under the parking garage on Church Street in Leominster (with their department issued body worn cameras activated).

“Det. Monahan asked Luis who primarily operates the Pontiac Vibe, that is registered to him,” Det. Kochanski said. “Luis told us that his wife Melissa does because she travels to different residences for work, and it is good on gas.”

Det. Monahan then asked Luis who was driving the Pontiac Vibe on Tuesday and he said Melissa was because she “was going into work and would have home visits.”

Det. Kochanski reported that Det. Monahan asked Luis for his consent to review the text messages between himself and Melissa, to which Luis agreed.

 “The text messages started around 3 p.m. with ‘call me’ and with the last one around 6:47 p.m. asking the same thing, ‘call me,’” Det. Kochanski said.

When asked what time Melissa arrived home, Luis said around 7 p.m.

“Luis explained to us that before meeting with us, he had spoken with Melissa and told her that a detective wanted to talk to him,” Officer Kochanski added. “Before ending the conversation with Luis, he told us that the Pontiac Vibe had a dent on the right side, which is the passenger side by the rear tire area.”

After this, one of the task force members contacted Det. Sgt. Marois and informed him that the Pontiac Vibe had been in the parking garage located on Putnam Street in Fitchburg.

“It was requested that we observe the vehicle in case it left the area,” Det. Kochanski said. “When we received this information, we started to head towards Fitchburg in case the vehicle left with Melissa driving and there might be a chance that she would pick up Dennis Lopez.”

According to Det. Kochanski, Det. Monahan reached the Putnam Street parking garage just as the Pontiac Vibe was leaving the facility. After exiting the parking garage, the Pontiac made a left turn towards Main Street and then turned right onto Main Street.

Detective Monahan trailed the Pontiac as it drove through Fitchburg and returned to Leominster, with additional members of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force in pursuit.

“It was determined that while stopped in traffic at the intersection of North Main Street and Erdman Way, that we would conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle,” Det. Kochanski said. “This was accomplished and Melissa Ramos was the only occupant of the vehicle. I then requested a tow truck for the vehicle because it was being seized as evidence because of it being the vehicle involved in the robbery.”

Det. Kochanski said that Melissa was asked if she would come back to the station to speak with police and she agreed.

“Det. Sgt. Marois authorized the transport back to the station,” Det. Kochanski said. Later adding, “At the station, I activated my department issued body worn camera and escorted Melissa into the station and to Interview Room 3. I explained to her that my body worn camera was recording and she stated that she understood. I told her that the interview would start once Det. Monahan arrived.”

When Det. Monahan arrived, Det. Kochanski read Melissa her Miranda warning, which she said she understood.

“She was asked if she worked on Tuesday and she stated, ‘yes, I went in around 8:30 a.m.,” Det. Kochanski said.

Melissa told police that she works for The Arc of Massachusetts, which is a social services organization in Fitchburg dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities. She explained that her job duties include working in the office and conducting home visits throughout the day.

“Melissa was asked if she left work on Tuesday and she told us that she left around 10:15 a.m. for a home visit in Westminster,” Det. Kochanski said. “After the home visit, she told us that she went back to the office, she was there for a short time, and left a little after 12 p.m. for lunch. Melissa told us that she had a home visit scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday as well.”

Detective Monahan asked where Melissa went for lunch, and she stated that she went to El Bohio Restaurant in downtown Fitchburg.

“Melissa explained that she ran into Dennis Lopez in the parking lot where she parked to go to Bohio for food,” Det. Kochanski said. “She told us that Dennis asked for a ride to withdraw money from a bank. Dennis explained to Melissa that he had money deposited into his Santander bank account from a Fitchburg detective that he had been working for.”

Detective Kochanski reported that Melissa mentioned Dennis talked about withdrawing money from accounts at both Santander Bank and Clinton Savings Bank. When detectives asked Melissa what happened next, she said that she agreed to drive Dennis to Santander Bank to withdraw the money.

“Melissa told us that Dennis told her that Santander Bank was in Leominster, and they started to drive there,” Det. Kochanski recounted. “Det. Monahan asked her which way she took to get to the bank. She explained to us that she traveled on West Street to Cotton Street where she took a right, then turned left onto Pearl Street, drove to the parking lot at the end of Pearl Street, pulled in, backed up, and drove back up Pearl Street towards Cotton Street and parked along Pearl Street by the back of the library.”

Det. Kochanski added, “Melissa then told us that this is when Dennis got out and walked to Santander Bank. She told us that he was back quickly and then they drove off on Pearl Street towards Cotton Street, took a right on Cotton Street towards West Street where she took a left and headed back to Fitchburg.”

Det. Monahan asked Melissa where she dropped Dennis off when she got back to Fitchburg and she said the same parking lot where she picked him up.

“We asked Melissa what Dennis was wearing on Tuesday and she described him to be wearing an olive color jacket, black hat, boots, and couldn’t really remember the pants,” Det. Kochanski said.

Detective Monahan asked Melissa if she was certain about how she travelled into Leominster and the events that occurred there. Melissa replied that those were the only details she remembered.

 “At this point, we then began to tell her that there were a few details missing from her trip from Fitchburg to Leominster,” Det. Kochanski said. “Melissa’s demeanor did not change, and she appeared unfazed about this. Det. Monahan told Melissa the path traveled and explained to her that this was all on video surveillance and her response was that when she drives, she goes by landmarks and really doesn’t know street names.

When Detective Monahan informed Melissa that the Pontiac Vibe she was driving had been captured on surveillance passing by the library on West Street and then turning right onto Pleasant Street, she recalled to Detective Monahan that she had parked in the Pearl Street parking lot and Dennis had briefly exited the vehicle.

“I asked her did she know where he went, and she told me that he was going to the bank to make the withdrawal,” Det. Kochanski said. “Melissa then explains that when Dennis got back into the vehicle, he told her that the bank was getting it ready and to come back in five minutes.”

Det. Kochanski asked Melissa what happened next and she said that she drove out of the parking lot and parked along Pearl Street so Dennis could go back into the bank.

“Det. Monahan explained to her that this did not happen because after leaving the parking lot on Pearl Street, the vehicle is seen driving back on Pleasant Street, turning left onto Adams Street, and into the Walgreens parking lot,” Det. Kochanski said. “Melissa then tells us that Dennis mentioned that he needed to pick up a prescription at Walgreens because he had not been feeling well. It’s at this point when Melissa stated that she had been focusing on just the Santander Bank part of the day and forgot everything else that happened during the time in Leominster. We again asked Melissa what Dennis was wearing when he first left the vehicle when she parked in the parking lot along Pearl Street and Walgreens. She told us the Dennis had the olive color jacket, black hat, boots and couldn’t remember what color the pants where. She was asked about if she saw Dennis wearing a blue jacket and her response was ‘yes, but it was multi-color retro jacket.’”

Detectives asked Melissa again if there was anything else that transpired during her time in Leominster and she said that she remembers Dennis coming out of Walgreens with something in his pocket.

“She explains that when he got into the car, he put a purplish mask on because he had a cough,” Det. Kochanski said. “I asked Melissa if she noticed Dennis’s cough when he got into the vehicle in Fitchburg, and she told me that he had a little cough. I asked Melissa when Dennis got into the vehicle while in the parking lot of Walgreens where did they go. She told me that they left the parking lot, took a right onto Adams Street, a left onto Pleasant Street, a left on Pearl Street, and then parked in a parking spot along Pearl Street. She told us that this is when Dennis got out of the vehicle to go make the withdrawal at Santander Bank because it had been a little while. Melissa stated that Dennis left, returned quickly and they left to drive back to Fitchburg. I asked Melissa if Dennis told her how much money he withdrew, and she told me that it was about $7,000 and change and between both banks there was a little over $12,000 that the detective had deposited into his accounts.”

Det. Monahan asked Melissa if she had contact with Dennis before Tuesday and she said that she did – in fact – speak with him since the incident in December.

“She told us that she was gathering information from Dennis like she had been previously while volunteering thru her church to assist the homeless and drug addicts,” Det. Kochanksi said.

Mellissa then told police that a “past” contact of hers, Keith, at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, contacted her Wednesday afternoon and told her that Dennis was “all over social media because of the bank robbery.”

“Det. Monahan asked her [why] when he [i.e. Keith] texted her on Wednesday afternoon asking if DJ (Dennis Lopez) had gone to the clinic early, she told him that she had not spoken to Dennis in over a week and a half,” Det. Kochanski said. Adding, “The next response from Melissa was that if she heard from Dennis that she would reach out to Det. Monahan.”

Det. Kochanski asked Melissa why she did not reach out to Det. Monahan about driving Dennis to Leominster and she did not answer.

“I explained to her that she had prior conversations with Det. Monahan about drug dealings and with this being a bank robbery she did not think to contact him,” Det. Kochanski said. “It’s at this point she had nothing to say and no emotions of any remorse of not making the call.”

Detective Kochanski informed Melissa that her account of the situation was inconsistent, and cast doubt on her claim that she did not have a significant relationship with Dennis.

“I then told Melissa that this entire situation does not add up; that she didn’t have some type of relationship with Dennis,” Det. Kochanski said. “She tried getting him in touch with Det. Monahan to become a Cl [Confidential Informant], the numerous amounts of telephone calls that she received from Dennis while he was inside Worcester House of Corrections, then when he was released from jail showing up to her residence at 235 Grove Avenue wanting to talk to Luis about her having an affair. Det. Monahan had stepped out of the interview room and when he came back into the interview room, he explained to Melissa that this interview was over and that she was being placed under arrest.”

Det. Kochanski said that Melissa yelled out that she didn’t know Dennis robbed the bank and only gave him a ride to withdraw money.

Melissa was then placed in handcuffs and escorted to the booking room where she was charged with the following (Det. Kochanski’s reasoning for the charges are included in quotations):

1. Armed & Masked Robbery: “Melissa Ramos was operating the vehicle with Dennis Lopez, waited in the vehicle while Dennis Lopez robbed Santander Bank and Dennis Lopez is being charged with the same charge,” Det. Kochanski said.
2. Conspiracy: “Melissa Ramos agreed to drive Dennis Lopez to Santander Bank to supposedly withdraw money, then drove him to Walgreens when Dennis Lopez got the face mask to go into Santander Bank,” Det. Kochanski said. “Melissa then drove away after the robbery and never reported the crime.”
3. Accessory after the Fact: “Melissa, knowing she drove Dennis to Fitchburg after leaving Santander Bank, being told that Dennis is all over social media for being the suspect of the bank robbery, speaking to Det. Monahan via text the next day about where Dennis is located and not reporting to Det. Monahan that she drove him to and from the bank,” Det. Kochanski said. “Melissa’s actions after the robbery have aided Dennis’s avoidance of arrest in connection [with] the robbery.”

Melissa Ramos was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Jan. 17, 2025.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from January, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.

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