Vicksburg Police Capt. Robert Dowe, left, checks bank robbery suspect Omar Ingram after his arrest just before noon Thursday. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[04/06/01] A Warren County man was arrested Thursday within 10 minutes of a robbery at the newest bank in town the Halls Ferry Road branch of Trustmark.

Omar Ingram, 23, 102 Tower Drive, was taken into custody by Vicksburg Police Chief Mitchell Dent and Lt. Walter Beamon on Porters Chapel Road around 11:40, Sgt. Beverly Prentiss said.

Police believe Ingram entered the newly constructed Trustmark branch around 11:30 a.m., and handed a teller a note demanding money.

“The note he gave her said he had a gun, but no one ever saw it,” Prentiss said.

The robber left the area in a yellow Thunderbird. About 10 minutes later, a matching car was spotted by Beamon on Wisconsin Avenue. He followed the car while Dent approached from Porters Chapel Road, where they blocked the car in and arrested Ingram.

A gun has been recovered.

Trustmark President Jerry Hall said the branch, which was built to replace a former building on the site, opened Jan. 22.

“We are thankful no one was hurt and for the fast and efficient work by the Vicksburg Police,” Hall said.

Police recovered an undisclosed amount of money from the car, Prentiss said.

It was the first bank robbery in Vicksburg this year. Two attempted bank robberies were reported in 2000.

Robbing a bank is both a state and federal crime, and either government can prosecute. The FBI transferred Ingram to the Madison County Detention Center, FBI spokesman Deborah Madden said.

Ingram will have an initial appearance for charges in federal court today, and he will face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.