Citizen helps catch bank robbery suspect

Anthony John Hollman is charged in the Tuesday armed robbery of the M&T Bank in Clear Spring

July 10, 2002|by MARLO BARNHART

marlob@herald-mail.com

A man charged with robbing the M&T Bank in Clear Spring at gunpoint Tuesday morning was pursued by a citizen and then police who apprehended him after forcing the suspect's vehicle to crash near the Interstate 70/81 interchange.

Anthony John Holliman, 24, of no fixed address, fled his disabled car and was tackled by Washington County Sheriff's deputies in the median of Interstate 70 just minutes after the 10:30 a.m. robbery at the 121 S. Mill St. bank, Deputy First Class Johnny Marshall said.

Holliman was being held Tuesday night at the Washington County Detention Center awaiting an appearance before a court commissioner, jail officials said.

Charges include armed robbery, robbery, use of a handgun during commission of a crime, first- and second-degree assault and felony theft, Marshall said.

As the robber entered the bank, a female customer at the drive-through window saw the gun and alerted someone at the Clear Spring Exxon located across Md. 68 from the bank, Marshall said.

While calling 911, the unidentified citizen got into his car and followed the suspect's red Chevrolet Geo Prism as it headed east toward Hagerstown, Marshall said.

As the two vehicles approached the Interstate 70/81 interchange, Maryland State Police tried to stop the suspect's car and forced it to crash on the eastbound I-70 ramp to southbound I-81.

Marshall said once the vehicle crashed, the suspect got out and attempted to flee on foot but was tackled by a deputy.

"The weapon, the money, the bait (dye) pack and the clothing he was wearing were all recovered," Marshall said.

The amount of money taken from the bank was described as moderate.

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