For Immediate Release: May 9, 2008

LCPD Arrests Bank Robbery Suspect

LAKE CITY, FL - On May 9thth, at approximately 4:38 pm, a lone suspect entered the Bank of America, located at 2357 NW US Highway 90 in Lake City. The suspect, Richard Knox, 32, took a seat at a customer service officers desk and then approached the teller with a note demanding money.

During the robbery, he indicated there was a bomb; however he had not been carrying a when he entered the bank. Bank employees tripped the alarm and the Lake City Police Department was notified at 4:40 PM.

At the time the alarm was received several Lake City officers and FHP trooper were on the scene of a motor vehicle crash on US 90 a few blocks east of the scene. Officers and troopers immediately responded to the bank, arriving at 4:42 PM. Lake City Detective, Larry Shaller and FHP Trooper Smith were the first to arrive on scene.

They observed a black male subject exit the east door of the bank and start walking towards a green Volvo with Alabama license plates parked in the lot. An unknown while male also came out of the bank with his hands up and upon seeing the officers returned to the bank. Shaller and Trooper Smith took the black male into temporary custody while officers, troopers, and deputies from the Columbia County Sheriffs Office surrounded the bank.

Dispatchers from the Lake City Police Department called the bank and confirmed there was only one suspect, which was a black male. After the scene was secure, bank employees confirmed the male detained by Shaller and Smith was indeed the suspect.

Knox told the officers that he was homeless and said the Volvo was his. He was transported to the Lake City Police Department where he was interviewed by Sgt. John Blanchard. Knox told officers that he did not have an explosive device and no other indicators of one were found. However he did admit to 2 bank robberies, one in North Carolina and Las Vegas although this has not been verified at this time.

"This was a nice piece of team work on the part of the officers, troopers, and deputies involved in this arrest," said Chief Burch. "No one was injured during the incident and Knox left the bank without receiving any money."