‘Big Truck Bandit’ suspect in custody, police say

Forrest City man arrested in connection with robbery at Marion Regions Bank

ralphhardin@gmail.com You can run but you can’t hide… even if you choose a rather unique getaway ride. A week after a man robbed a bank in Marion, Arkansas and then made his escape in a blue tractor-trailer, police said the bandit is in custody.

According to the Marion Police Department, 24-year-old Brandon McGruder of Forrest City, Arkansas has been detained for the crime.

Police said that McGruder robbed a Regions Bank on Block Street in Marion just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21.

He walked up to the teller, demanded money and loaded the stolen cash into a duffle bag before running off, according to police.

People at the bank told police that the man ran off towards Walnut Street and Manor Street. When Marion Police checked surveillance video from businesses in the area, they said they saw the man get into a blue tractor-trailer on Manor Street and take off.

A week after the robbery, on June 28, Marion Police said that McGruder was detained as a suspect in the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Cargo Task Force in Memphis.

A warrant for aggravated robbery has been issued for McGruder and police said they are attempting to extradite him back to Arkansas to face those charges.