2 men arrested in bank robbery

But this time, a bank robbery task force made up of State and local police and federal agents was waiting, too. A State Police trooper tackled the suspect as he ran out of the bank, and other officers chased the alleged accomplice, who fled in a car into Newton.

In an hour, both men were arrested and called suspects in at least seven other bank robberies known as the U30 Bandit heists for the quickness of their execution - in under 30 seconds.

“At this time, this is an ongoing investigation; however, the investigation has led us to believe that these individuals might be related to the U30 Bandit,’’ said Noreen Gleason, an FBI special agent in charge.

Dimitri Long, a 33-year-old from Norwood with a history of crime, including assault to murder, and Michael Coty, a 44-year-old from Dedham, were charged with armed robbery with a firearm while masked, stealing by fear, larceny over $250, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit bank robbery, Needham police said.

They are to be arraigned today in Dedham District Court.

The arrests featured the type of drama fitting for those suspected of a series of bank robberies that have plagued the suburbs west of Boston.

Last week, the task force announced a $37,500 reward for information leading to an arrest because of the increasingly violent nature of the heists.

In some cases, the robber used bombs as decoys. In most cases, he pointed a gun at the teller.

David Procopio, a spokesman for the State Police, said police and federal agents recently developed information that put them “in a position to disrupt the robbery of the Sovereign Bank in Needham.’’

A State Police trooper tackled Long, who was identified by authorities as the robber and allegedly had a cellphone, gun, and clothing to cover his identity. A money bag was dropped during the scuffle. Several officers, some with their guns drawn, helped to subdue the Norwood man, witnesses said.

“He was wearing some kind of bandages on his face. I’ve never seen anything like it,’’ said Barry D. Greene, a lawyer who looked out the window at his his Highland Avenue office and saw the scene unfold.

“I heard a lot of noise. I heard a lot of yelling and screaming.’’ He said about a dozen police cruisers were on the scene.

Other witnesses said they saw money flying in the air, then sticking to objects in yesterday’s pouring rain.

Meanwhile, other officers jumped into cruisers to follow the alleged accomplice into Newton. Coty was arrested outside a home on Country Club Road, police said. A police SWAT team searched the home after receiving early indications that there may have been a passenger in the car.

Procopio later said that police believe Long and Coty were the only suspects involved.

Long has a criminal record. He was convicted of assault with intent to murder and a hate crime for the 2004 stabbing and beating in Norwood of a white man because he was dating a black woman.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than three years in jail.

Police said they will continue to investigate whether he is the U30 bandit who terrorized banks between March 26 and June 16. In each case, the robber has shown a sort of discipline similar to yesterday’s robbery: He storms in quickly, demands cash, and flees.

Three times he has placed what appeared to be an explosive device on the counter, including what looked like three sticks of dynamite taped together in a previous Needham holdup. In that case, the fake bomb was set up at a nearby supermarket to distract police.

Globe correspondent Ben Terris contributed to this report.