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Bank robbery suspect caught near Elizabethtown

June 09, 2006|BOBBIE CURD

ELIZABETHTOWN - A man suspected of robbing banks in Danville, Lancaster and Nicholasville was arrested without incident Thursday by Kentucky State Police.

Ricky Allen Pittman, 38, of Lexington, was apprehended after police received information that he was in the Elizabethtown area.

KSP Detectives Monte Owens and Mark Young had been involved in a lengthy investigation into Pittman's whereabouts relating to the robberies, including the May 19 hit on Whitaker Bank on the Public Square in Lancaster.

The second hold-up occurred at Farmers Bank in Peddlers Mall in Nicholasville the next day, with the third being at Fort Knox Federal Credit Union in Danville just four days later, making three bank robberies in six days.

Steve Pavey, public information officer for the KSP Elizabethtown post, said Pittman was being followed as he was traveling on Bluegrass Parkway and was stopped about one mile east of Elizabethtown.

"He was being followed by detectives in a plain car, who let us know that he was in the area," Pavey said.

Units from KSP Post 4, Elizabethtown Police Department, the Hardin County Drug Task Force and KSP Drug Enforcement West units assisted Owens and Young with Pittman's arrest.

Pavey said there was no information released as to whether Pittman was traveling alone or with someone.

Last week, Pittman's sister, Barbara Brock, contacted WLEX 18 and wanted to send a personal message to Pittman. According to the news station's reports, Brock said her family couldn't take anymore of Pittman being on the run.

"We'll be there for him, but he must come. He can't stay on the run, there's nowhere to go, they'll eventually catch you and it's making it harder on him. But not only his self, he needs to think about us," Brock said.

Pittman allegedly said the reason for the bank robberies was due to a bad drug habit, Brock told the station.

Pittman faces three counts of first-degree robbery. He is lodged in the Lincoln County Regional Jail, and his bond is pending.

His arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, where he will appear in Garrard District Court via video.

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