BEAR CREEK – Martin Muniz-Lara, 43, was arrested and charged with robbing Premier Community Bank on Oct. 17.
That morning he walked into the bank, flashed a revolver and said he had a bomb in an orange bag. He wore a hooded sweatshirt, black pants, gloves and sunglasses. He ordered the tellers to go into the vault and he climbed over the counter and snatched $9,305. Some of those bills had traceable serial numbers. He took off in a small white sedan with no plates. Nobody was injured and he made a clean getaway before police arrived.
They caught up with him days later. Investigators studied security footage and Flock Safety automated license plate readers (which also captures images of passing vehicles) and that clued them to his homes in Greenville and Oshkosh. After searching those houses, they found a .32 caliber revolver, cocaine, drug gear, and evidence connecting him to the robbery. They also matched a footprint at the bank to the tread of his shoes.