Suspect Arrested for Aggravated Robbery Following Bank Robbery Friday

 Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI have captured a man they believe robbed the Wilson Bank and Trust in Gladeville late Friday afternoon.

The suspect identified as Matthew W. Jones, 37, is being held at the Wilson County Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery. WCSO alerted the FBI and Tennessee Highway Patrol after reports of a man coming into the bank, robbing it and throwing a suspicious device onto the counter of the bank. Witnesses told authorities the man fled in a white, older model SUV.

After the bank was evacuated and all employees and patron were moved to a secure area, Tennessee Highway Patrol retrieved the suspicious device and later determined it to be a fake device built to look like a bomb.

Meanwhile, a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency officer located the abandoned vehicle shortly after the robbery in Cedars of Lebanon. Investigators were able to identify the suspect by comparing bank footage with the vehicle and suspect’s driver’s license information.

Investigators were able to identify and track down several of the suspect’s known associates. After following numerous leads, authorities traced a vehicle belonging to one of the associates at the Super 8 Motel in Hermitage.

FBI, WCSO and Tennessee Bomb and Arson officers located Jones in one of the rooms and took him into custody at about midnight Friday night. He was booked into the Wilson County Jail at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday, where he is currently being held without bond. It is anticipated he will be transferred to federal custody on Monday.

“We appreciate the cooperation of all agencies involved in apprehending the suspect,” Sheriff Robert Bryan said. “Because of all the help from the public and good investigative tactics by all agencies involved, we were able to take this suspect off the streets without anyone getting hurt. We sincerely thank everyone for their part in this case.”