Dunwoody Police arrested a 71-year-old man on July 30 who allegedly robbed four banks in the Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and Chamblee areas.
He was charged with one count of armed robbery, a count of criminal attempt to commit robbery, and two other robbery charges from incidents in other jurisdictions. Additional charges may occur, according to the Dunwoody Police Department.
According to a statement from the department, Sharke Fernando Bankston of Atlanta failed to rob the Synovus Bank, 5506 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, around 2:30 p.m. on July 30.
“The suspect entered the bank, presented a demand note for cash and left the bank with no money,” the statement said. “The suspect then went to Chase Bank at 5540 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, presented a demand note and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.”
According to police, Bankston entered a wooded area and changed clothes after the second robbery. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the suspect emerging from the trees.
During their investigation, it was determined that Bankston was a suspect in two other bank robberies, one at a Corporate America Family Credit Union at 104 Town Blvd. in Brookhaven on July 23 and an undetermined location in Chamblee on July 19. Brookhaven Police Department had an active warrant for his arrest, and Chamblee police had listed him as a suspect in a July 19 bank robbery.
Brookhaven Police said Bankston presented a note to the teller at CAFCU demanding money, allegedly stealing $1,100.
According to DeKalb Jail records, Bankston was also arrested for armed robbery in 2015. Jail records indicate he also went by the aliases of William Ray Higgins and Kenneth James Tompkins. He remains in jail at this time.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is made available.
