A South Carolina man, identified as Sidney Alan McCollum, has been arrested in connection to the robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in Gainesville on Friday.
According to a Facebook post by the Gainesville Police Department, McCollum was arrested in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is awaiting extradition back to Gainesville.
The Gainesville Police Department confirmed McCollum also robbed a bank in Toccoa on Aug. 11.
“We are thankful for our law enforcement partners, the community and the media for helping locate McCollum," said Police Chief Jay Parish. " I am extremely grateful to the officers and investigators who worked hard to develop information in this case to ensure McCollum was brought to justice."
No further details have been released.
Original Story Posted 1:19 p.m. on Friday:
The Wells Fargo Bank branch at the corner of Thompson Bridge Road and Enota Avenue in Gainesville was held up around noon today, and police believe the suspect is the same man who robbed a bank in Toccoa earlier in the week.
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said the suspect walked into the bank and handed a note to a teller, demanding money.
"He threatened to have a weapon, but he did not present one," Parrish said.
The suspect, a white man of average height and build, had his face covered.
"He had a black gaiter face mask - one like many people are using for COVID right now - pulled up over his nose. He had sunglasses," Parrish said.
Tellers handed over an undetermined amount of money and the suspect left the bank on foot walking toward the parking lot of the Publix grocery store across the street.
Parrish said once officers were able to retrieve surveillance footage from the bank's security cameras, they realized the suspect looked just like the man who robbed the Northeast Georgia Bank branch on Big A Road in Toccoa just before noon on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Parrish said it appeared the suspect was wearing the same clothes he wore during the Toccoa crime.
Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize identified the suspect from the Wednesday hold-up as Sidney Allan McCollum, 42, of Pickens County, South Carolina. McCollum is also wanted in his home county for larceny and domestic violence.
Parrish said officers are searching the area for the suspect, but they do not know if he was able to get into a vehicle and make an escape. He said any witnesses are asked to contact 911 or the Gainesville Police Department with information.
