Accused bank robbers are caught almost immediately

By Carey Phillips and Lisa Majors-Duff

Accused bank robber Jerry Glenn Turpin, 35, of Bryson City, is led to the Jackson County Jail Monday by Sylva Police Officer Joe Frigo (center) and N.C. Highway Patrolman Jeff Womack. Turpin was later turned over to the FBI, which is investing the robbery at Carolina Community Bank.

Jerry Glenn Turpin, 35, and Dennis David Green, 24, both face local charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to Detective Steve Lillard of the Sylva Police Department.

Since bank robbery is a federal crime, the case was turned over to the FBI. Turpin was transferred to federal custody; however, federal authorities declined to take custody of Green, and he was released on $25,000 unsecured bond, Lillard said.

A white male, believed to be Turpin, entered the bank just after 2 p.m. and demanded money from a teller, Lillard said. The man displayed no weapon but indicated he had a firearm, the officer said.

The suspect "grabbed the money and exited the bank, although it was not known whether he escaped on foot or in a vehicle," Lillard said. "A couple of customers were in the bank at the time but did not immediately realize what was happening."

Jackson County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Jim Ashe, who did immediately realize the situation when the report reached him, directed other Sheriff's Department personnel to establish a perimeter around the Sylva city limits on the major highways. Officers were dispatched to N.C. 107 and 116, U.S. 23-74 east and west, and U.S. 441 north and south.

"This looked highly suspicious to me, plus we had a very vague description of the suspect, and he fit it," said Ashe. It is a common occurrence for bank robbery suspects to attempt to change their appearance following a crime, he said.

As the vehicle turned right and began traveling east on 23-74, Ashe pulled in behind.

"(The driver) was trying to decide if I was following him, so he turned left at Comfort Inn," Ashe said. "I continued to follow him, so he then turned right onto Steeple Road.

"He then traveled at a high rate of speed to the intersection of Skyland Drive," Ashe said. "I maintained contact and continued to wait for backup."

The vehicle turned left on Skyland Drive and headed toward Sylva, he said. It then took another left on Hospital Road, where officers with the Highway Patrol had the road blocked. The suspects were further prevented from escape when Ashe and Sheriff's Department officer Robin Gunnells blocked them from behind.

After the suspects' arrest, Ashe said he saw "in plain view a large amount of money on the floorboard of the vehicle, 20s, 50s and 100s." Upon further search of the truck, officers found a semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun.

Approximately 10 minutes elapsed from the time the bank robbery was reported until the time the men were taken into custody, Ashe said.

"It was just long enough to drive from Lovesfield to the highway," he said of the almost immediate resolution of the case. "I knew (Cope Creek) was the quickest route of escape and that all the other routes were being covered. I just had a hunch and acted on instinct."

Though officers believe only Turpin entered the bank and demanded the money, Green is being charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon for acting in concert with Turpin, Ashe said.

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