BUDE &045; The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department has arrested eight suspects in connection with a bicycle bank robbery at Bank of Franklin in Bude on Wednesday.

Deputies arrested Fredrick Covington, 35, of 174 D St., Bude, at Della’s Motel in Brookhaven Friday night after Covington allegedly robbed the bank around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Seven other suspects were arrested in connection with Covington primarily under charges for aiding and abetting in the robbery.

Covington, carrying a bag, approached the bank on a bicycle, said Franklin County Sheriff James Newman. Covington then pulled what was believed to have been a sawed off shotgun out of the bag. Newman said Covington was only in the bank briefly, possibly under a minute, and fled with an undisclosed amount of money through a lumberyard and then a nearby subdivision.

Newman said Covington was then picked up by Calvin Carvell Robinson, 33, of 107 South Main St. in Bude and transported out of the area. Robinson was later arrested for aiding and abetting Covington. His bond is set at $500,000.

&uot;We got the word out pretty quick on who all were involved,&uot; Newman said.

There were six other suspects involved in the case, each on charge of aiding and abetting and bonds set at $500,000. Their names include:

Jamie Thompson, 17, of 174 D St., Bude; Mary Covington, 39, of 174 D St.; Michael Charles Harris Jr., 28, of 107 South Main St., Bude; James Edward Jackson, 37, P.O. Box 522, Bude; Melvin Jerome Tyler, 40, P.O. Box 395, Bude; and a juvenile who was turned over to juvenile court.

Rickey Lee Cole Jr., 22, Bude was also arrested as a result of the investigation, but no bond was set. He was previously charged with a probation violation and was not directly linked with Covington as of Monday, although deputies were interrogating him.

Newman said the tellers at the bank had gone through a traumatic experience.

He also indicated no one had been injured during the ordeal.

&uot;We are grateful that no one was hurt,&uot; Newman said.

&uot;We really appreciate the Bude Police Department, investigator John Stoll and the Mississippi Highway Patrol for their help in the investigation. We would also like to thank the Brookhaven Police for their help in assisting with the arrest,&uot;

The case is still under investigation, Newman said.