Clayton News Daily

aBy Jason Smith

jsmith@henryherald.com

Henry County authorities apprehended two men Friday morning suspected of robbing a Stockbridge bank.

The robbery took place at approximately 9:48 a.m., at the First State Bank at 1810 Hudson Bridge Road. Henry County Police Sgt. Rene Swanson said authorities were called to the scene by a person who reported seeing two black males enter the bank - one of them wearing a mask.

"Apparently, [the men] ... brandished weapons and robbed the bank of an undisclosed amount of cash," said Swanson. "Law enforcement officers were able to locate the males a short distance away."

Representatives from the police department and the Henry County Sheriff's Office began chasing the suspects on foot. According to Swanson, Police Officer Kody Waggoner caught up with one of the men, and Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Benson apprehended the other.

Swanson added that the weapons used in the robbery, as well the money taken from the bank, were recovered. She commended the "outstanding observation skills" of the witness at the scene, and "excellent joint law-enforcement work," as factors in the arrests.

Bank President and CEO David Gill said while he was not at the bank when the incident occurred, he observed video surveillance footage of the robbery shortly afterward.

"Everyone working at the bank, as well as the police officers, conducted themselves very professionally," said Gill. "They did exactly what they were supposed to do."

Police had not released the names of the two suspects as of Friday afternoon.