LUMBERTON, Texas — A man is in jail facing a felony charge after what police are saying is the first bank robbery ever in Lumberton.
On Monday, June 6, 2022 at 11 a.m., 37-year-old Timothy Shane Mitchell, of Kountze, entered the Community Bank located on FM 421. Mitchell gave the teller a note stating he had a gun and demanded money, according to a Lumberton Police Department release.
The suspect left the bank with a "large amount" of money. The teller called police once he left.
Police dispatch put out a good description of the vehicle the suspect left in, according to Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins. Shortly after, a sergeant spotted a vehicle matching the description traveling north on US 69 near Lumberton High School.
The sergeant tried to pull the vehicle over near the school, and Mitchell instead pulled into a nearby CVS pharmacy where he was arrested, cooperating with officers.
"We got out, got him out and did a felony takedown and took the suspect into custody, and he said, 'I'm who you're looking for,;" Sullins said. "The money was in the front seat. No one was injured, thank God and the suspect was very cooperative."
Mitchell was arrested less than 1.5 miles away from the bank. The stolen cash was found in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
Mitchell was taken to the Lumberton Police Station and interviewed by detectives and FBI agents. Mitchell is charged with one count of aggravated robbery which is a first-degree felony.
Police did not find a gun despite Mitchell’s note stating he had one, according to Sullins. Mitchell told police he ate the note after showing it to the teller.
Sullins said he expects the FBI to take Mitchell into federal custody. As of now, Mitchell is currently being held in the Hardin County Jail on a $1 million bond.
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From a Lumberton Police Department release:
On Monday, June 6, 2022 at approximately 11 AM a black male entered the community bank on FM 421 in Lumberton. He gave the teller a note and demanded money. The note stated that he had a gun. He left the bank with an undetermined amount of money. Dispatch advised of the description of the vehicle and the suspect. A Lumberton police sergeant spotted the vehicle a few moments later traveling north on US 69 near the high school. He initiated a traffic stop and was ordered out of the vehicle by police. He admitted that he was the person we were looking for. A large amount of cash was located in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. He was transported to the Lumberton police station where he was interviewed by Lumberton police detectives as well as FBI agents. He was charged with one count of aggravated robbery which is a first-degree felony. The suspect is identified as Timothy Shane Mitchell, 37 of Kountze. He was taken before justice of the peace Melissa Minton and bond was set at $1 million. He was booked into the Hardin County Jail.
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