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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 14, 2005 Bank robber suspects indicted A Jackson County grand jury charges two Medford men with robbery, theft and conspiracy; one’s in jail, the other remains large By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Two Medford men were indicted Tuesday on felony charges relating to last week’s armed robbery at a U.S. Bank branch in downtown Gold Hill. A Jackson County grand jury indicted Thomas Ray Taylor, 32, of the 700 block of Royal Avenue, and Edward Jay Silva, 28, of the 200 block of Whitman Place, on charges of first- and second-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and aggravated first-degree theft, said Tim Barnack, a Jackson County deputy district attorney. Wearing masks, Taylor and Silva allegedly stormed into the U.S. Bank on Sept. 7 and ordered patrons to the ground while demanding money from tellers, police said. One of the robbers was armed with a handgun, while the other threatened customers with a canister of pepper spray, police said. Investigators believe the men ran from the bank and left in a 1997 Dodge Stratus that was located at Silva’s home a few hours after the robbery. Officials would not say how much money the men allegedly stole from the bank. However, a person must be suspected of stealing a minimum of $10,000 in order to be charged with aggravated first-degree theft, Barnack said. Advertisement Taylor was jailed the night of Sept. 7 on a parole violation after a traffic stop in Medford. Investigators already suspected Taylor was involved in the Gold Hill robbery, and questioned him about the bank heist upon his arrest, said Jackson County sheriff’s detective Colin Fagan. Taylor and Silva "were both on our persons-of-interest list, but (with Taylor’s arrest) we were able to get to a point in the investigation where we connected them to the robbery in Gold Hill," Fagan said. Detectives continue to seek leads about Silva’s whereabouts. "It is an ongoing investigation, and we’re still trying to apprehend Silva," Fagan said. Taylor and Silva also are the primary suspects in a July 14 robbery at a PremierWest Bank in Dorris, Calif., in which a pair of armed bandits fled with cash taken from a bank vault and several teller stations, officials said. Additionally, Medford police previously said they believe the men responsible for the Dorris crime are the same people who committed a string of armed robberies earlier this year at several Medford taverns and Purple Parrot stores. Taylor, who was being held without bail late Tuesday in the Jackson County Jail, was sentenced to prison in 2003 on a Jackson County charge of attempted second-degree assault. His felony record includes convictions for vehicle theft, second-degree burglary and first-degree theft. Silva served prison time following a 2002 conviction in Jackson County on burglary charges. Silva is described as a white male who stands 6 feet tall and weighs about 160 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Police say he is usually well dressed. Anyone with information on Silva is asked to contact Fagan at 774-6815 or Medford police detective Terry Newell at 774-2238. CrimeStoppers of Southern Oregon will pay a maximum of $1,000 for information leading to Silva’s arrest. Callers to 800-3-DETECT can remain anonymous. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s