Man arrested in bank incident

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December 19, 2012

Man arrested in bank incident

Patti Dozier CNHI The Times Enterprise Wed Dec 19, 2012, 06:25 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — The pine straw in disarray outside a downtown Thomasville bank is where police took down a man who resisted arrest inside the financial institution.

The man entered Thomasville National Bank, 310 N. Broad St., a little before noon Wednesday and began bothering and harassing tellers, Louis Schofill, a police detective, said at the scene.

“They were trying to get him to leave,” the detective explained.

Another detective was in the bank conducting business when the incident began. The officer asked the man, who was acting suspiciously, to leave.

“He got mad and violent with the officer,” Schofill said.

The suspect, who was carrying a large, gym-type bag, shoved the officer when an attempt was made to arrest him.

Meanwhile, another officer arrived at the bank. The suspect, John Wesley Smith, continued to resist arrest after the struggle moved outside into a landscaped area on the East Washington Street side of the building.

As the activity continued in the bank, an employee hit an alarm.

“The call came out as an armed robbery at the bank,” said Schofill, pointing out the number of police units that responded to the scene.

The teller to whom the suspect’s attention seemed to be aimed told detectives she did not know the man.

“He asked for someone by the wrong name,” Schofill said.

Police did not know the man’s age or address Wednesday afternoon. Charges had not been made.

The suspect was taken to the Archbold Memorial Hospital emergency room for psychological evaluation.

Smith’s brother, who was at the scene, declined to comment on the situation.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 26-2400, ext. 1820.

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