Four Suspects In Bank Robbery & Chase Make Court Appearance
CORAL SPRINGS (CBS4) - It was a two county chase that ended with a smashed car and three guys running from police, two of them accused of robbing a bank in Coral Springs. The three, plus another man, were in federal court Thursday morning in Fort Lauderdale.
According to court documents, Gregory Richardson and Edward Rogers are the two who robbed the SunTrust bank and a customer while they burst inside.
Investigators said Richardson is the man on surveillance video in the bank with the bandana covering his face, carrying a metal clamp. He's the one who reportedly jumped the counter and demanded cash.
The FBI said Rogers was in there too, that he was the one carrying the gun who robbed the customer and forced everyone onto the floor.
Outside the federal court hearing this morning, family and friends had little to say. "Pray!" said one woman. "God is good."
Agents said after the robbery, Richardson and Rogers drove to a neighboring shopping plaza where Carlos Jenkins was waiting in the getaway car, a gray Charger that led police on the 36 mile chase. A UPS driver spotted them as they dove into the waiting car.
According to federal investigators the gray car is owned by Quinton Johnson. He reported it stolen 15 minutes after the crash; but investigators said he was actually a player in all this.
"Quinton had nothing to do with it," said someone who knows him outside court.
"Can you tell us why he was arrested then?" asked CBS4's Ted Scouten.
"No comment," was the response. Johnson's attorney would not respond either.
Even though Johnson's family said he's innocent, and he dabbed tears and at times sobbed in court, investigators said he helped planned the whole thing; even driving the two accused robbers to the bank the night before for a dry run.
Investigators believe these guys have done this before, possibly as many as 5 times.
All four suspects will be back in federal court next week when the judge will decide if they will be eligible for bond.
