ATM photo leads to arrest in Poplar Bluff robbery

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A surveillance photograph from a bank's ATM led authorities to a Poplar Bluff man who allegedly robbed a woman early Wednesday morning by displaying a handgun and knocking her down as the machine was dispensing her money.

Just before 6 a.m., the Poplar Bluff Police Department received a call from a witness reporting a robbery at the 1st Community Bank on Ditch Road, according to deputy chief Jeff Rolland.

Fewer than five hours later, authorities had Gregory Gene Jones, 31, of the 200 block of East Midland in custody on suspicion of armed robbery.

The alleged robbery occurred at the bank's ATM, which is on the south side of the bank, Rolland said. "You can drive up to it, [but] for some reason, she drove up, parked and walked up to the ATM."

The woman, Rolland said, had stopped to use the ATM on her way to work.

As the woman was making her transaction, a man came up behind her and watched, Rolland said.

"As the ATM machine was dispensing $60 in cash, he knocked her down to the ground and stole her money," Rolland said. "She stated as he pushed her down, he was holding a handgun."

A vehicle, Rolland said, pulled into the parking lot, which caused the suspect to flee the scene in a northeasterly direction toward Missouri Avenue.

Bank personnel, Rolland said, were able to provide officers with a still photo of the alleged suspect from the ATM's video surveillance.

Patrol officers, Rolland said, recognized the individual "from prior dealings with him from the video surveillance."

A check of the department's records management system, Rolland said, provided a Midland Street address for Jones.

Rolland said detectives and officers responded to the address, where they took Jones into custody without incident about 10:50 a.m.

Inside the residence, Rolland said, officers found the clothes Jones wore during the alleged robbery, as well as "the gun he used during the robbery and the money."

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO