Police chase robbery suspects in Lexington

Police said two masked men burst into the Bank of America branch on Moody Street in Waltham around noontime yesterday. Wielding guns, they got an undisclosed amount of money and fled on Route 128. Pursued by police, they ditched their car near Exit 31A in Lexington, heading into the woods.

One suspect, identified by Lexington police as Benjamin Michaud, 32, was arrested soon afterward, police said. He was charged with armed robbery and an outstanding parole violation. Police said he was homeless.

The second suspect, whose name was not released, eluded a large group of law enforcement personnel, some using police helicopters.

Over the next several hours, police searched at least two houses in Lexington while trying to track down the second suspect. Homes on Burlington Street and Ledgelawn Avenue were searched by State Police, including special weapons troopers.

Fred Wasson said he rents the Ledgelawn Avenue house that was examined by police.

Wasson said he was on the second floor of his home when he heard a noise on the first floor that he attributed to his cat knocking something over.

“I came down and noticed that the back door had been forced open,’’ Wasson said outside his home yesterday, surrounded by police. “I called 911, and they said to come outside. Then I realized my car was gone out of my driveway.’’

Wasson said his coat with his keys had been hanging on a banister. “He must have moved quick, because he was gone before I ever saw him,’’ he said.

No suspects were found inside either house, but a State Police spokesman, David Procopio, said forensic teams combed the homes for evidence.

The heavy police presence on foot, in cruisers, in specialized law enforcement vehicles and trucks, with K9s, and in helicopters came as a surprise to residents like David Williams, who lives on Burlington Street.

“I’ve never seen anything like this around here,’’ said Williams, 60, who lives a few doors away from one of the homes that police searched. Pointing skyward to the circling helicopters, he said: “Now there’s something you don’t see every day.’’

Michaud was in the custody of Waltham police last night and there was no information about an arraignment.

The search was ongoing for the second suspect, who was believed to still be armed.

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com.