By Kate McCardell

Published: May 7, 2008

A Grand Ridge man, who was under federal probation supervision, has been charged with robbery in connection with the Wednesday afternoon robbery of Superior Bank on Florida Highway 71 in Marianna.

The robbery was reported at 2:24 p.m. About three minutes later Deputy David McPhail spotted the suspect in a car driving on Interstate 10. The officer quickly stopped the vehicle and other deputies arrived quickly at the scene as the arrest was made, said Maj. John Dennis of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrested and charged with one count of robbery was John Hervey Tatum Jr., 57, Grand Ridge. He is being held at the Jackson County Correctional Facility.

A press release from the sheriff’s office revealed that Tatum is currently under federal probation supervision out of Tallahassee because of a prior armed bank robbery conviction.

“No one was hurt at the bank. Superior Bank’s employees did an outstanding job of following protocol. They were a great help and so was the public,” Dennis said. “Several people in the area gave a description of the suspect and his car. The sheriff’s office really appreciates everyone’s help.”

A dye bomb inside the bank bag exploded in or around the suspect’s car, which was in the vicinity of Sonny’s and Long John Silver’s. Dye-stained bills could be seen blowing across the highway and around the parking lots. Many onlookers were helping to collect the money and were seen turning the bills over to officers at the scene.

An officer at the scene said the stained money would be useless as currency after the dye covered it.

The suspect walked into the bank at about 2:24 p.m. and told a teller that he had a gun and demanded money. The teller responded by filling the bag with an undisclosed amount of money.

At this point in the investigation, it does not appear that Tatum actually had a gun, Dennis said. Nonetheless, the teller responded as she should by handing over the money, he said.

“That’s what they are taught to do, and should do. The safety of employees and public is the most important point during a robbery. The folks at Superior were well prepared. You have to be on guard and they were very well prepared,” Dennis said.

The deputy who first spotted the suspect was in a patrol zone and was already on the lookout. Other officers arrived at the scene quickly and Tatum was arrested without anyone being injured, Dennis said.

— Floridan editor David Palmer contributed to this story.