First, the vice detectives conducting surveillance on West Street noticed what they believed was a drug deal.

When they moved in to make arrests, they also noticed that one of the men involved looked like a bank robbery suspect.

Thomas Kendall, 29, of 198 Pine St., unit 2L, Lowell, and Kevin McClarney, 45, of 20 Depot St., Westford, were both arrested on West Street about 11:30 a.m., by vice detectives who were conducting surveillance in response to complaints from neighbors, according to Capt. Jack Webb.

McClarney was charged with distribution of a class A substance, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a class A substance with intent to distribute, possession of a class B substance and possession of a class C substance. Who knew that Westford guys dealt heroin in Lowell?

Kendall was charged with possession of a class A substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Kendall was in bigger trouble, though.

Vice detectives, led by Detective Lt. James Hodgdon, noticed something.

"While they were making the arrest they recognized that (Kendall) closely fit the description of a guy who we wanted for the bank robbery," Webb said.

The robbery Webb was talking about had been at TD BankNorth, 350 Westford St., in Cupples Square, on Aug. 31, where an unarmed man had walked into the bank and passed a teller a note before making his escape.

After an investigation by detectives probing the bank heist, Kendall was charged with an additional count of unarmed robbery.

He was being held Tuesday afternoon, since bail had not yet been set. He will be arraigned Wednesday in Lowell District Court.