HOT SPRINGS -- A Hot Springs man suspected of robbing a local bank Wednesday afternoon was arrested less than 30 minutes after the robbery occurred.
Henry Tonjie Smith, 66, was taken into custody by Hot Springs police shortly after 3 p.m. and charged with felony counts of aggravated robbery, punishable by up to life in prison, and theft of property more than $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Smith appeared via video Thursday morning in Garland County District Court and pleaded innocent to both charges. A felony review hearing is set for Dec. 18 to determine whether the case will be bound over to Garland County Circuit Court. Smith remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $100,000 bond.
According to the affidavit, police detective Mark Fallis responded to Citizens Bank, 150 Airport Road, about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday regarding a robbery that had just occurred.
Two employees told police that an unknown black male wearing a black ball cap, sunglasses, a ski mask and blue shirt had walked into the bank. One employee told the man he would have to remove his hat and glasses, but the man walked up to the other employee and put a small black drawstring bag on the counter in front of her and told her to put money in it, the affidavit said. He also told her he had a gun and that she needed to hurry, according to the document.
The employee put an undisclosed amount of cash in the bag and the man fled on foot. He was last seen walking toward the Wal-Mart at 1601 Albert Pike, the affidavit said.
Other officers in the area located a man matching the description, identified as Smith, behind the buildings at Hot Springs Plaza, 1609 Albert Pike, and took him into custody without incident, according to the affidavit. It was noted officers found the stolen cash and other items on Smith at the time of his arrest, the affidavit said.
Smith was brought to the police department for questioning and admitted to robbing the bank, the affidavit said.
NW News on 11/13/2017