Published: June 23, 2009 01:00 pm      

Employees help stop would-be bank robber

Thanks to information from Forcht Bank employees, London Police arrested a would-be bank robber outside Forcht Bank on KY 1006.

Police arrested Martin D. McWhorter, of London, in the parking lot of the Regency 8 Movie Theater about 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

“He had his face painted up and had dyed his hair,” London Police Lt. Stewart Walker said. “He was wearing a camouflaged cap, sunglasses and a bandana, had a gun, two bags and written instructions to give to the tellers.”

Walker said police began the investigation after bank employees noticed McWhorter in the parking lot earlier Thursday.

Officers spread across the area searching for him. London Police Detective Jimmy Phelps found McWhorter in the theater parking lot and took him into custody.

In addition to trying to disguise himself, Walker said McWhorter had made multiple attempts to disguise his car, placing a piece of paper with hand-written numbers over numbers on the license plate, and placing duct tape over the make and model decals on the vehicle.

McWhorter was charged with attempt to commit armed robbery, which Walker said a class B felony, carrying a potential prison sentence of 10 to 20 years. In addition, officers found about 3 ounces of marijuana in the vehicle. Walker said McWhorter is also charged with trafficking in marijuana and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.



Staff writer Dean Manning may be reached at dmanning@sentinel-echo.com.