SMITHVILLE — Monroe County law enforcement officials arrested a Tupelo woman on a charge of armed robbery Tuesday after a Renasant Bank branch in Smithville was robbed at around 11:30 a.m. A male was taken into custody later in the day in Lee County but was released without being charged.
Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell said investigators believe Johnica Williams, 21, was the only person who entered the bank and demanded money.
“She passed a note and told the cashier at the bank that she was asking for money and that she was armed,” Cantrell said. “On the video, you can see that she had a gun. No one was hurt. We did a quick investigation here at the sheriff’s department along with the Smithville Police Department.”
Law enforcement used video footage to identify the vehicle as a red Honda Civic with a black hood and a DeSoto County license plate.
At around 3 p.m., dispatchers informed Lowndes County law enforcement that Monroe County officials apprehended the suspects. Lee County law enforcement spotted the vehicle and stopped the suspects near East Main Pawn Shop in Tupelo at around 2:45 p.m., Cantrell said.
It is unknown how much money Williams took from the bank, but Cantrell said money was recovered.
Renasant Bank is located at 63471 Highway 25 N. in Smithville.
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