Two charged in bank, credit union robberies

A suspect charged in connection with a Sept. 29 credit union robbery has been linked to a previous bank robbery, Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said.

Tracy Rose, 51, of 1826 Autumn Lane, was arrested Sunday on armed robbery charges in connection with a robbery at Pee Dee Federal Credit Union.
He now faces charges in connection with the Sept. 11 robbery of First Federal Bank at 238 S. Coit St.

Debra Sue Stukes, 51, of 1104 Waverly Ave of Florence also is charged with armed robbery in connection with the Sept. 11 incident because police believe she was in the getaway car, Raines said.

She also is charged with accessory before and accessory after the fact in connection with the Sept. 29 incident, Raines said.

Investigators said she wasn’t present during that crime, he said.

Stukes was released from the Florence County Detention Center on Thursday after posting bail.

Rose remains in custody at the jail in Effingham on a $50,000 surety bond.