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Junction City man charged in Nicholasville bank robbery

July 24, 2008|MIKE MOORE

NICHOLASVILLE - Nicholasville Police Department credited the awareness of residents of the Shannon Parkway neighborhood for the quick arrest of a bank robbery suspect Wednesday afternoon.

About noon, Joseph D. Morris, of 4245 Hustonville Road, Junction City, allegedly walked into the Kentucky Bank branch on Shannon Parkway, indicated to the female teller that he had a weapon and demanded money.

"He implied that he had a weapon, and he kept reaching into his pocket," Maj. John Branscum said. "The bank employees said the man appeared to be nervous, and it scared them pretty good because they were wondering about the way he was acting; they didn't know if he was under the influence of something."

It took officers about five minutes to make an arrest, thanks to tips from residents who had called earlier concerning a suspicious vehicle in the area.

"A resident said a guy was riding around the area for about 30 minutes, probably casing the place," Branscum said. "The resident called in a suspicious car, and our officers were already on Shannon Parkway when the robbery call came in. That's why it was so quick.

"It just goes to show you that residents can be a huge help when fighting crime," Branscum added.

Morris allegedly fled the scene in a late model, white Chevrolet Cavalier.

Unconfirmed reports of second suspect

There were reports of a second man involved in the robbery, but Branscum said a search had not turned up anyone else as of press time.

"We've double-checked," he said. "Originally we were told a black male was also involved, but we haven't come up with anything to support that claim."

No one was injured during the incident, but one unnamed teller was shaken up enough that Jessamine County Emergency Medical Service was called as a precaution.

"She was noticeably shaken," Branscum said. "An ambulance crew came down and checked her, but she's fine."

Morris was charged with first-degree robbery, a Class B felony punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison, and taken to the Jessamine County Detention Center.

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