Two arrested following BB&T bank robbery attempt Monday morning
By JOHN A. WINTERS
john@newnan.com
Two suspects were arrested during an early Monday morning bank robbery attempt in downtown Newnan that involved Newnan Police officers firing two shots at one suspect.
No one was injured in the incident, which occurred after 8 a.m. at the BB&T bank branch office on Jefferson Street. The branch is located across the street from the Newnan Police Department and Wadsworth Auditorum.
Deputy Police Chief Rodney Riggs said two officers each fired one shot at the suspect after the suspect refused to surrender and officers saw what they believed was a gun.
Another suspect was apprehended inside the bank, Beneke said, adding that investigators are checking into whether there is a third suspect, who would have been driving a getaway car.
Both suspects were taken to the Coweta County Jail and were being questioned on Monday. Riggs identified them as Cedric Barber, 47, of Newnan, and Demetrius Malone, 21, of East Point. Riggs said both are charged with armed robbery and may face other charges.
Employees were opening the bank just before 8:30 a.m. when the two suspects "rushed the employees and forced their way into the bank," Riggs said.
"They were in the process of taking money when police arrived," Riggs said.
Police were first alerted by a driver who called Coweta 911 after seeing suspicious activity, Riggs said. Police were setting up a perimeter when the when the first suspect came out.
BB&T Senior Vice President Don Phillips, of the Newnan banking center, said, "We are grateful that our employees are safe and commend the actions of the Newnan Police Department. They did an outstanding job."
