BYRAM, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Byram Police had two men in custody Friday afternoon following a bank robbery and three hour manhunt. It all started at the Copiah Bank on Terry Road around 3:20 p.m. Friday. At least three bank employees were held at gunpoint as the two robbers demanded cash.
"This was not just a pass a note kind of bank robbery. They went in, very intimidating. Very aggressive tactics they used in there," said Byram Police Chief Luke Thompson.
An officer responded quickly and kept an eye on the get away vehicle, a silver Dodge Charger. One man was taken into custody at Old Byram Road at the Interstate 55 Frontage Road where the vehicle was abandoned. The other man got into a black BMW and led officers on a chase.
"The black BMW headed south, jumped the median and ended up on the interstate. We pursued to Wynndale where the vehicle left the road and the subject went into the woods," said Chief Thompson.
That sparked a three hour manhunt involving Byram Police, Hinds County Sheriff's deputies and even Skycopter 3 which was requested to aid in the search. In the end, the robber stopped running and the money was recovered.
"He had been running in the woods for three hours. He didn't have a whole lot of fight left in him. When we finally centered in on him, there were seven officers right there. There was no fighting," said Chief Thompson.
This was the second bank robbery in Byram this week. On Tuesday a woman held up the State Bank and Trust on Siwell Road. Officers also caught up with her and took her into custody. Byram Police had not released the identities of the two men arrested Friday.
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