A dye pack that exploded helped police capture a man who robbed the AmSouth Bank in St. Elmo on Tuesday morning.
Edward Bass was arrested at 1020 West 37th and charged with the robbery. He was turned over to the FBI and will be facing federal bank robbery charges.
Police said when they drove up to the bank they found a youth in the driver's seat of the vehicle used in the robbery.
The passenger side door was open and cash was on the ground nearby with red stains on it.
Buford Kilgore said he was parked beside the vehicle in the holdup. He said he saw Bass exit the bank and get in the car. He said he then saw what appeared to be smoke coming from the vehicle, and both Bass and the youth exited it.
A teller said Bass handed her a letter that said, "Bank Robbery, Have Gun."
She gave him a bag of cash that included a dye pack.
Bass was seen running south toward the BI-LO food store. Police set up a perimeter in the vicinity of the bank and called in the K-9 unit.
Officers found Bass at 1020 E. 37th St. They said he had been knocking on doors trying to get someone to let him in.
The youth at the vehicle was not charged and is to be used as a witness in the case against Bass, police said.
The bank is at 3614 Tennessee Ave.
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