Brian Blackford, of Kings Park, charged in 2 Flagstar Bank robberies, police say

A Kings Park man was arrested during a traffic stop early Thursday in Copiague and charged with robbing two banks this week — one Monday in West Babylon, the second Wednesday in North Babylon — Suffolk police said.

Police said Brian Blackford, 51, was arrested during a stop on Beach Avenue at 12:40 a.m. Thursday. He was charged with two counts of third-degree robbery, as well as one count each of resisting arrest and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Arraignment details were not immediately available.

Police said that at 3:45 p.m. Monday, Blackford entered a Flagstar Bank branch on Montauk Highway in West Babylon, handing a note to a teller demanding cash. Police said the teller complied — and Blackford fled on foot.

On Wednesday, police said Blackford robbed another Flagstar location, this one on Deer Park Avenue in North Babylon, entering the bank at 12:48 p.m., handing a note demanding money to a teller and again fleeing on foot after the teller complied and handed over cash.

Police did not detail how much money was taken in either robbery.

Additional details were not immediately available Thursday.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.