LAURINBURG —Authorities have identified the three men arrested Tuesday in Laurinburg in connection with an attempted bank robbery in Rockingham.

Benjamin James Monneyhan, 25, of Selma, Alex Martin, 24, of Goldsboro and Jesse Hood, 28, of Greensboro, are accused of trying to rob the the Fidelity Bank.

According to Rockingham Police Chief Billy Kelly, a man walked into the bank on East Broad Street around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and demanded money from a teller. Kelly said the man suggested he had a weapon, but one was never displayed. He added that no one was injured in the robbery. The man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash and rode away in a sliver Dodge Stratus, the chief said.

Laurinburg police said they saw a car matching the description of the one involved in the bank job headed east on US 74.

When officers attempted to stop the car, the driver tried to escape, but crashed. Monneyham, a passenger, jumped out of the vehicle near Pizza Hut on US-401 and ran into the woods, according to police.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Laurinburg Police Department, Scotland County Sheriff’s Office and the State Highway Patrol Aeronautical Unit, searched for Monneyhan.

“We had to secure the area, and the wooded area was unique because it starts at Pizza Hut and goes all the way to Scotland Crossing and the Dragon Park,” Assistant Police Chief Cliff Sessoms said.

A team of five officers was assembled to track Monneyhan into the swamp after the K-9 unit lost Monneyham’s scent in the water, according to Sessoms.

Monneyhan was arrested at the James L. Morgan Recreational Complex on Turnpike Road, after officers forced him to exit the swamp, over a mile from where he entered.

Monneyhan has been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit felony larceny, according to the Richmond County Jail records. A $100,000 secured bond has been placed on Monneyhan.

Martin and Hood have each been charged with aiding and abetting armed robbery and conspiracy to commit felony larceny. They were each given a $75,000 secured bond.

The men may also be cited by Laurinburg police for traffic violations, Sessoms said.

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_police.jpg

Monneyhan
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Monneyhan.jpgMonneyhan

Martin
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_martin.jpgMartin

Hood
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Hoodl.jpgHood

By Nolan Gilmour

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Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-506-3171