Disguised man under arrest
The Florida man was caught minutes after the incident.
May 30, 2008
Columbia police arrested a disguised Florida man Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of robbing First National Bank at 10 N. Garth Ave.
The suspect was identified as Johnny D. Miller of Pinellas, Fla., who is being held on suspicion of first-degree bank robbery and armed criminal action.
According to a release from the Columbia Police Department, the suspect entered the bank around 3:30 p.m. wearing a wig, a mask over the lower part of his face and sunglasses. The suspect displayed a gun and demanded money from the tellers, then left the business on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
The release said police responded to the report and saturated the area where the suspect had reportedly fled. Approximately eight minutes after the robbery was reported, police spotted the suspect running northwest through an apartment complex, west of Doctor’s Park on Broadway, and a pursuing officer was unable to get through fences in the area to get to the suspect at that time.
The release said officers spotted the suspect again minutes later, this time running east, and officers apprehended the suspect in the foyer area of 33 E. Broadway.
During the investigation, police found a bag containing the money stolen from the bank, the wig and the sunglasses. Police later found a loaded handgun in the area where the suspect had fled from police.
Columbia Police Department Sgt. Ken Hammond said the suspect had ties in Moberly, and had been in the area for two days.
Capt. Brad Nelson said it has not been confirmed why the suspect had come to Columbia or had chosen to rob that particular bank. He said it was clear the suspect had planned the robbery ahead of time because of his loaded firearm and “somewhat elaborate” disguise.
Hammond said bank robberies are not common in Columbia, and the last one reported in the city occurred more than a year ago.
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