UPDATE: (January 4, 2010, 2:12 p.m.) A third suspect in the robbery of Georgia's Own Credit Union was arrested in a residence in Clayton County today.
Sean Foster was arrested after being linked to the Thursday, Dec. 23 robbery of the branch on 620 Sigman Road in Conyers.
"We believe he was the third person, the getaway driver." said Conyers Police Department Lt. Jack Dunn.
-------------------------------
(December 30, 2010, 9:49 p.m.) Nyepah faces charges of murder, false report of a crime and false statements in connection with a drive-by shooting in May that killed a father of five, according to reports on WSB-TV.
Nyepah, along with Darius Mapp and a 16-year-old juvenile allegedly pulled up next to Anthony Scott Carter, 41, and shot him once in the torso at a stop sign on the corner of Panola Road and Covington Highway on May 22 at 3 a.m. Carter managed to drive to a gas station and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he later died from his wounds.
Even before the shooting, Nyepah was reportedly charged in November 2009 with felony aggravated assault, carrying a pistol without a license, discharging a firearm near or on a public highway and 1st degree criminal damage to property.
A judge reportedly amended the bond that released Nyepah so that he could serve with his Army National Guard unit in Afghanistan. He reportedly served a three month tour.
-------------------------------
(December 29, 2010, 3:19 p.m.) The two suspects arrested for the Georgia's Own Credit Union robbery were specialists in the Army National Guard.
Francis and Nyepah are attached to unit HHC 560th BFSB out of Fort Gillem. Both Francis and Nyepah are currently in custody at the Rockdale County Jail.
Francis had his Army National Guard fatigues underneath the coveralls that he disposed of in a wooded area.
Nyepah was out on $5700 dollar bond from DeKalb County on charges of Murder, False report of a crime, and false statements.
The Conyers Police Department was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
-------------------------------
(December 28, 2010, 11:25 a.m.) A second suspect was placed under arrest after he turned himself in at the Rockdale County jail Monday night.
Menshack Jah Nyepah, 21, of Decatur and his attorney met with Conyers Police Department investigators at the jail around 8 p.m.
Nyepah was booked into the jail and charged with aggravated assault and armed robbery.
Dunn said Nyepah has not made a confession or a statement, but was allegedly actively involved in the robbery.
"We are still seeking a third suspect," said Dunn.
---------------------------------
(Dec. 27, 2010, 1:37 p.m.) A pre-Christmas bank robbery in Conyers might have turned into yet another statistic had it not been for the watchful efforts of regular citizens and investigators.
On Thursday, Dec. 23, around 12:30 p.m. two masked men armed with handguns came into the Georgia’s Own Credit Union branch at 620 Sigman Road and demanded money.
The suspects were described as two black males wearing black pants and hoodies.
One of the suspects jumped the counter while the other armed suspect stayed in the customer service area, where there were a few customers in the bank at the time. No one was reportedly injured in the incident.
A couple outside the bank witnessed the two masked men leave the bank with a black bag and get into a car, a 2003 Mercury Marquee.
According to Conyers Police Department Lt. Jack Dunn, the couple actually tried to block the getaway vehicle from leaving the parking lot.
When they were unable to prevent the vehicle from exiting, they followed as the suspects drove down Sigman Road and into an industrial area, where they lost the car.
The suspects eventually abandoned the vehicle in an industrial area on East Park Drive and fled by foot through the wooded area.
One of the suspects showed up in a nearby neighborhood and knocked on the door of a home.
“He had removed the coveralls he was wearing, disposed of some evidence, knocked on the door and asked them to dial 911 saying he had been carjacked,” said Dunn.
The suspect claimed his was car stolen at the intersection of Sigman Road and Gees Mill and that the car had been used in the robbery at the Georgia’s Own Credit Union.
But when police talked with him, there were reportedly discrepancies in the story that didn’t match up.
Dunn said the suspect eventually confessed he was involved in the bank robbery.
Jemelle Lloyd Francis, 25, of Lithonia was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and armed robbery. Francis is likely to face the same charges on the federal level as well, since bank robberies fall under federal and FBI jurisdiction.
A Newton County K-9 unit also assisted in tracking down the path the suspects took as they fled and helped f ind the evidence.
Investigators are also looking into the identification and apprehension of the two other suspects.
Dunn said regular citizens getting involved to this extent in stopping a crime is infrequent.
“A lot of citizens see it as their civic duty to attempt to help. We recommend they don’t put themselves in jeopardy. But when you can obtain a tag number, those kinds of things are beneficial to the investigation,” he said.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 770-929-4211.
