CHESTERFIELD — Investigators said the first bank robbery in Chesterfield’s history has proven to be an unusual one, as more details emerged Tuesday about the crime.
Investigators say 50-year-old Henry Walker of North Carolina robbed a bank Monday afternoon, then picked up his 5-year-old daughter from daycare using the getaway car.
The robbery happened at 2:15 p.m. at the Carolina Bank branch on Main Street, according to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office. A man wearing a mask and black clothing walked in, demanded money and fled down S.C. 145 in a burgundy Lexus with paper tags.
No one was injured during the crime.
After the robbery, the suspect picked up his 5-year-old daughter from daycare, Maj. James Dixon said. The suspect then dropped the child off at someone’s house, and continued running from law enforcement officers.
Deputies, as well as Chesterfield police, State Law Enforcement Division and FBI agents were involved in the investigation and looking for the suspect.
The suspect next tried to trade in the Lexus at a Rockingham, N.C., car dealership, and buy a new car outright. Employees at the dealership found that suspicious and placed a GPS tracking device on the car.
Law enforcement officers used the GPS to find the suspect on U.S. 74 in Wingate, N.C.
Chesterfield Police Chief Randall Lear said the car dealership employees deserve credit for helping authorities apprehend the suspect.
“They were looking at him, (and) he just didn’t look right,” Lear said. “He was awful nervous, and they just had a good feeling, we’re gonna wind up having to repo (repossess) this car, so they put on a GPS tracker, and that’s what led to his downfall.”
Walker is charged with armed robbery. Lear said it’s likely the FBI will prosecute this case, which he said he thinks is the first bank robbery in the town’s history.
“I’ve been asking around and everybody that I’ve talked to, the older folks, they can’t ever remember a bank robbery having taken place here,” Lear said. “I certainly don’t remember one.”
Lear said Walker not only has about 15 different aliases and eight different Social Security numbers, but also an extensive criminal history with crimes ranging from homicide during an armed robbery, armed robbery, larceny, shoplifting, burglary and escape.
The chief said he finds the suspect’s behavior in this case, however, extremely strange.
“He wanted to spend some quality time with his 5-year-old after a bank robbery, and ride around in the car with (her) when ... some law enforcement officer is out looking for him,” Lear said. “The BOLO (Be On the Lookout alert) went out to all surrounding counties and agencies, you know, it’s just lucky that somebody didn’t come up on him then.”
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