Bank robbery suspect sought

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 17, 2010

NATCHEZ — Natchez experienced its second bank robbery in three months time Monday, when a man demanded cash from a teller using the written word.

The Natchez Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the downtown Regions Bank branch, 321 Franklin St., at 10:24 a.m. Monday.

Natchez Police Lt. Craig Godbold said the suspect, a white male between the ages of 35 and 50, was wearing a light blue T-shirt, khaki shorts, tennis shoes and a white baseball cap bearing the letter “F.”

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The suspect, who is believed to be at least 6 feet tall with a medium build, presented a letter to the teller demanding cash, Godbold said. Police Chief Mike Mullins said investigators have confiscated the letter, but Mullins would not disclose the letter’s exact wording.

According to witnesses, the suspect did not appear to be armed, Godbold said. No injuries were reported.

Mullins said it’s unknown whether the suspect fled the bank on foot or by car.

An undetermined amount of cash was stolen from the branch, which closed for the day as investigators gathered evidence and interviewed witnesses.

Regions Natchez City President Charlie Speed said the branch will reopen today.

The city had its first bank robbery in nearly 20 years in May, when a masked man entered the Britton & Koontz Bank branch on U.S. 61 North.

Six people were later arrested in connection to the robbery — Lyndon B. Ivory, Jellena Ivory, Mamie R. White, Elbert J. Dukes, William E. Baker and Travis Parker.

White, 55, was arraigned on a grand jury indictment last week for accessory after the fact to armed robbery. White’s trial is set for Nov. 23. Her bond is set at $55,000.

Dukes, 51, the alleged getaway driver, was also arraigned on a grand jury indictment for armed robbery. Dukes’ trial is set for Nov. 16. His bond is set at $125,000.

Investigators never disclosed the exact amount of money stolen from B&K Bank.