CENTRAL CITY — Police have released the names of two people arrested Friday afternoon in connection with the armed robbery of Farmer’s State Bank in Central City.
According to Central City Police Sgt. Nick Heath, 38-year-old George David Treece, of Double Springs, Alabama, was arrested for alleged armed robbery.
A passenger in the truck, 47-year-old Teresa Whitaker, of Boaz, Alabama, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, for multiple baggies of what Heath says field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Treece is believed to have not only been the subject who robbed the bank, but was also the driver of a grey pickup truck that took officers on a high-speed chase south through Centralia.
Centralia Police Officer Billy White was first to notice the grey truck and became suspicious of the driver’s behavior, says Heath.. When the driver of the truck noted White was aware of him, he reportedly sped off, with White initiating a pursuit that ultimately ended with the two suspects in custody.
Heath says Centralia Police could file traffic-related charges against Treece; however, the FBI is involved in the bank robbery investigation and federal charges would likely supersede any local charges.
According to Heath, the majority of the cash taken from the bank has been recovered, along with clothing that matches the description of what the suspect was wearing during the bank robbery. A small dog was also rescued from the truck.
Heath expects to release surveillance photos from the bank by Monday. Both Treece and Whitaker are being held in the Marion County Jail awaiting the formal filing of charges and the setting of bail.