Anthony Rasul Garrett, 20, of Douglasville and Villa Rica, and Curtis Lavert Raiford, 20, of Hampton, have both been charged with armed robbery for their alleged role in the robbery of the SunTrust branch on Highway 61 near Villa Rica Saturday morning. The man police believe was in the “getaway car,” 19-year-old Ronald Jabriel Robinson ofDouglasville, has been charged with party to a crime of armed robbery and obstruction.
Police are currently executing a search warrant on a fourth suspect, who investigators believe aided the three suspects in the planning portion of the crime. Capt. Jeff Richards with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, who is handling the investigation along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said the fourth suspect’s name could not be released as of press time.
"We are actively pursuing this person who we believe had some invovlement in planning the robbery," Richards said.
An eyewitness and two deputies who happened to be nearby played key roles in the quick capture of the first three men on Saturday.
Garrett and Raiford allegedly walked into the branch just before the bank closed at noon and produced a handgun, said Richards. Robinson, Richards said, was waiting in the getaway car outside the bank.
As the two suspects left the bank after the robbery to meet their car, an eyewitness alerted officials. Two deputies in the area, Steve Young and Justin Moore, began giving chase, joined soon after by several other officers, including Villa Rica police.
The suspects were pursued into Douglas County, exiting Interstate 20 onto Post Road, where they bailed out of their car after crashing it. Two suspects were caught immediately by Carroll County officers, with the third caught in the woods by a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office canine unit after a perimeter had been set up.
“Officers from Carroll County and Villa Rica were able to get on the vehicle quickly, and we joined the chase on I-20,” said Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller on Saturday. “At I-20 and Post Road the vehicle crashed and two of the subjects were taken into custody pretty quickly. One of the subjects fled into the woods nearby.”
Miller said that Dep. Clint Adams was in the area with his dog, Charon, and the two were able to locate the third suspect relatively quickly.
“Many times, subjects feel that if they get on the interstate they have a chance, but all the agencies in this area along with the Georgia State Patrol work very well together,” Miller said. “We help each other out, and the quick response on their end and the cooperation is what worked today.”
There were no injuries reported inside the bank, Richards said.
The suspects were returned to Carroll County. Richards said the FBI was coordinating efforts with the sheriff’s office to try and determine whether the suspects have been involved in any other robberies.
Currently, the three arrested suspects are in Carroll County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.
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