- December 16, 2025
A bank robbery suspect was arrested within minutes after he ran out of a bank about 4 p.m. on Feb. 19 after a failed attempt, according to an Ormond Beach Police Department spokesman.
A teller said the lone suspect entered the Suntrust Bank, 160 N. Nova Road, and passed a note demanding money. She said he implied he was armed, and had a beard, sun glasses, hat and a black-hooded sweatshirt.
Apparently, the suspect became impatient while waiting for the teller, because he fled before getting any money.
A Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy, in an unmarked car, saw a man with a beard, sunglasses and wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt run out of the bank and drive off in a white, Ford pickup truck with a Lawn Enforcement logo on the sides and rear. The agent called on his radio that he was following the suspect.
Meanwhile, Ormond Beach police were responding to a silent alarm at the bank. Using information supplied by the deputy, the officers, along with sheriff’s deputies, stopped the suspect at the intersection of West Granada Boulevard and Orchard Avenue without a pursuit.
The suspect was removed from the truck and placed in handcuffs.
As he was being removed, he threw a crumpled up piece of paper on the ground, and it was found to be identical to the holdup note, police said. He had a large foldup knife in his pants pocket.
The suspect has been identified by police as Matthew William Semione, 26, of Daytona Beach. In a post-Miranda interview, the suspect admitted to passing the note at the bank, according to police. He said he had been struggling with money and had a girlfriend and a baby on the way.
Inside the truck, the police found a hat, black-hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses and a pad of paper matching the holdup note.
A teller was transported to the scene, and she identified the suspect.
The investigating officers found that the suspect borrowed the truck from his employer. A person from the company arrived and took possession of the truck.
The suspect was charged with armed robbery and transported to Volusia County Branch Jail without incident.
The bank’s corporate security will turn over video of the incident to police when it is available, the report stated.
