Arrests Made in Benton Bank Robbery Investigation

Officers with the Benton Police Department, in conjunction with the Bryant Police Department, arrested a suspect responsible for the recent bank robbery at First Security Bank.

  The suspect, 52-year-old Bruce Echols, was arrested on Saturday following a tip.  

    Officers with the Bryant Police Department were following up on the information when they came into contact with another suspect, 50-year-old Terry Echols, on a traffic stop.

 Benton detectives then responded to the scene of the traffic stop and interviewed Terry Echols about the robbery.

    After speaking with Terry, detectives were able to ascertain information that his brother, Bruce Echols, was possibly involved in the bank robbery. 

 Detectives then made contact with Bruce Echols, who subsequently confessed to robbing the First Security bank on Thursday.   

Bruce Echols was charged with Aggravated Robbery, Theft of Property, Unauthorized Use of Another Person's Property to Facilitate a Crime, and for a previous warrant on a Terroristic Threatening charge. 

Terry Echols was charged with Theft by Receiving.

 Both subjects were transported to the Saline County Detention Facility for processing and are awaiting a bond hearing. 

    Detectives were able to recover a substantial amount of the stolen money and other evidence from the suspects at the time of arrest. 

Other charges and arrests could be forthcoming as this investigation continues. 

    According to a press release, quote, "This arrest was possible due to the community partnership we have with observant citizens, along with the hard work of the officers and detectives of the Benton and Bryant Police Departments in conjunction with the FBI. 

Ever since the robbery, detectives with the Benton Police Department have been diligently working numerous leads, which ultimately culminated in these arrests."

    Anyone with additional information relating to this case is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 778-1171.