Suspect in credit union robbery arrested
A suspect wanted in last week’s federal credit union robbery was arrested on felony warrants late Wednesday after a Hot Springs police officer recognized him as his former son-in-law.
Jonathan Eric Brown, 31, who lists no permanent address, was taken into custody around 9 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for aggravated robbery, punishable by up to life in prison. He was also arrested on a warrant for second-degree forgery, punishable by up to 10 years, stemming from a separate offense that occurred last year.
Brown remained in custody Thursday in lieu of zero bond, and is set to appear Aug. 22 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police responded to Combined Federal Credit Union, 203 Nash St., in reference to a robbery shortly before 4:30 p.m. Aug. 4. A female employee told the officers that an unknown man had just robbed the business, and gave his description.
She said he came into the business and slid her a note across the counter that stated “This is a robbery cooperate and we will all survive.”
The employee told officers she asked the man if this was a joke, and he told her “no and to hurry.” She then told the man she did not have any money. When the suspect questioned her response, she called for another employee.
The second employee stated she saw the man enter the credit union and hand the employee at the counter a note demanding money.
He fled on foot after receiving the money in a beige canvas bag
provided by the employees.
On Monday, Detective Mark Fallis was contacted by a fellow officer who saw a photograph of the suspect and believed it to be Brown, his former son-in-law.
Fallis obtained photos of Brown from past arrest records, as well as his driver’s license, and confirmed Brown closely resembled the photo of the suspect from the robbery.
On Tuesday, Fallis showed one of the employees from the credit union a photo lineup that contained Brown’s photo and five other males of a similar age and similar characteristics. She reportedly identified Brown as the man who robbed the credit union.
Hot Springs police on Tuesday afternoon distributed a news release stating that warrants had been issued for Brown’s arrest, along with his photographs.
The forgery charge reportedly stemmed from a 2016 warrant. According to the affidavit, Brown reportedly stole four checks from Frosty Treat, 1020 E. Grand, cashing one of them on Nov. 14, 2016.
The check was reportedly issued to Brown, and the memo line read, “For Frosty Treat.” An Arkansas driver’s license number and date of birth were recorded on the check by the bank’s cashier.
Detective Patrick Langley reviewed the footage the bank where the check was cashed, and compared it to Brown’s driver’s license photo, which allegedly confirmed Brown had cashed the check, totaling $323.