PB trio arrested in several recent bank robberies

Locations in LR, Benton hit

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Investigators working across county lines netted three arrests Thursday in a bank robbery ring based out of Pine Bluff that struck in Little Rock and Benton, according to arrest records.

Keyontae Johnson, 18, of Pine Bluff, was the arrest that set off a wave of other arrests and charges dating back to a March bank robbery in Little Rock.

Police in Benton went to the Bank of the Ozarks on Arkansas 35 North about 12:37 p.m. Thursday for a robbery, and after processing evidence, they learned that Johnson was likely the man who had walked in and robbed the business.

Once arrested in White Hall by Jefferson County sheriff's office deputies, Benton officials learned Johnson also was a suspect in the Tuesday robbery of a U.S. Bank location in the Heights neighborhood of Little Rock.

According to Little Rock detectives, Johnson walked into the 5200 Kavanaugh Blvd. bank and, with a gun in hand, hopped on top of a desk and forced a teller to empty the register.

The day of the Benton robbery, anonymous tips came in to detectives saying that it was Johnson pictured on wanted posters and media broadcasts.

After his arrest in Benton, he was shipped to Little Rock and charged with aggravated robbery and felony theft of property there as well.

Investigators said Johnson wasn't acting alone.

He was arrested in White Hall with Cameron Arnold of Pine Bluff.

Arnold, 29, coordinated both of Johnson's robberies, supplying guns, instructions and a vehicle to Johnson, investigators said.

Detectives said Arnold also provided tutelage to Devonta Piggee, 19, of White Hall, who has been in the Pulaski County jail since late March after his arrest in the March 24 robbery of the IberiaBank branch at 4900 W. Markham St. in Little Rock.

In addition to supplying a plan and resources, arrest reports state that Arnold "was observing the robberies" as they transpired.

Arrested along with Arnold and Johnson was Jocelyn Woods, 23, also of Pine Bluff.

She was charged with aggravated robbery and theft of property by Benton police, as well as acting as an accomplice in Thursday's robbery that involved Johnson.

The arrests -- the result of work among investigators in Little Rock, Benton, White Hall, Pine Bluff, the Jefferson County sheriff's office and the FBI -- produced 12 felony charges.

Arnold and Johnson remained in the Pulaski County jail Friday in lieu of $75,000 bonds.

Woods was being held in the Saline County jail. No bail for her release had been set.

Metro on 05/17/2014