UPDATE: BB&T Bank Robbery - Beals, Jonpaul Loren arrested

On 01/08/09 at 3:41 pm, the Frederick Police Department responded to the BB&T bank located at 1370 W. Patrick St. for a report of an armed robbery. Preliminary investigation revealed a male entered the bank and approached a bank counter. While at the counter, the male produced a handgun and demanded money from the bank teller. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect fled the bank in an unknown direction. The suspect was not located during an initial search of the area. The suspect was described as a white male, average build, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

UPDATE:

While investigating the bank robbery at the BB&T bank on W. Patrick St., the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an armed robbery at the Giant supermarket on New Design Rd. at approximately 4:06 pm. Minutes later, another robbery was reported at the Rite Aid pharmacy on New Design Rd. and Crestwood Blvd. The suspect description in both robberies matched that of the suspect from the bank robbery at the BB&T bank.

Detectives from the Frederick Police Department responded to the Rite Aid pharmacy to assist deputies with their investigations to determine if the robberies were related. Investigators from both agencies were able to link the robberies to the same suspect through video surveillance. During the investigation, a suspect was developed and later taken into custody by the Fredrick County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, identified as Jonpaul Loren Beals, age 29, of Frederick, was interviewed and information was obtained linking him to all three robberies.

Detective William Forder, an investigator with the Frederick Police Department, charged Beals with the robbery of the BB&T bank on W. Patrick St. Beals was charged with Armed Robbery, Theft Over $500, and Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence.