Brookhaven man charged in bank robbery
Published 8:47 pm Friday, October 8, 2010
WESSON – Authorities have made an arrest in connection with therobbery of the local Trustmark Bank on Sept. 16.
Elmer James Baker, 52, of 3361 Old Malcum Road in Brookhaven, wasarrested Thursday around 10 p.m. in Durant by the MississippiHighway Patrol SWAT team, said Wesson Police Chief Chad O’QuinnFriday.
In last month’s incident, a man allegedly entered the bankbrandishing a semi-automatic pistol and demanded money, then leftthe bank with an undetermined amount of money and fled the area ona bicycle.
The arrest was made in conjunction with the Wesson PoliceDepartment, the Copiah County Sheriff’s Department, the MississippiGaming Commission and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, saidO’Quinn.
Baker, a former science teacher at Hazlehurst High School, ischarged with one count of armed robbery, he said.
The chief said it is possible that other charges against Baker willbe filed. He also did not rule out the possibility of more arrestsin the case.
“The case isn’t closed, and we’re still investigating,” saidO’Quinn.
He said Baker is being held in the Copiah County jail in Gallmanwhile awaiting his initial hearing.
O’Quinn also expressed appreciation for the work of the numerouslaw enforcement agencies involved in the case.
“We appreciate the cooperation between all of the law enforcementagencies that helped make this arrest,” he said.