Columbia police are investigating the possibility that a man who fled from a bank in Campbellsville Tuesday is the same man who robbed United Citizens Bank in Columbia in October 2012.
“We feel like he is a solid suspect at this time,” Columbia Police Chief Jason Cross said Tuesday after the man wrecked his vehicle while fleeing police. “We are continuing the investigation at this time, but his mannerisms and a few other things match our guy.”
The man, identified as Eugene Earl Gentry, 63, of Lafayette, Tenn., entered Citizens Bank and Trust located on Ky. 210 in Campbellsville, around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday. Campbellsville police did not give details about what happened inside that bank, but some reports indicate Gentry asked for a loan officer and a specific amount of money, the same scenario that happened at UCB a year ago.
The Campbellsville bank was not robbed and the Campbellsville Police Department only says that the male suspect entered the bank and spoke briefly with an employee and he “exhibited behaviors which caused concern of suspicion.”
Campbellsville Police Officer Scotty Perian observed a vehicle matching the description provided by the bank. He initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Ky. 210 and Ky. 55. Officers approached the vehicle and the driver sped away.
The pursuit led down Hwy. 55 toward Adair County and local law enforcement and Kentucky State Police were called for possible assistance.
The pursuit ended when Gentry ran off Ky. 55 at Cundiff Garage in Taylor County and rammed his vehicle between two parked semi trailers.
Gentry was injured in the collision and airlifted to the University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition Tuesday night.
Chief Cross went to the scene of the accident then on to Campbellsville to view video footage at the bank. He said in an interview following the wreck that the department has fingerprints and DNA on file from the 2012 robbery. Det. Tracy McCarol is continuing the investigation on the UCB robbery, which occurred at the Campbellsville Road location on Oct. 15, 2012. The Campbellsville Police Department is investigating Tuesday’ incident and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the wreck.
By Sharon Burton
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