April 20th, 2009
Dollar store suspect charged with bank robbery

The individual in the January 12 American National Bank Robbery.

STAFF REPORT

Christopher Ryan Smith, the New Braunfels resident charged with the armed robbery of a San Marcos Dollar General store last week, is facing new charges in a local bank robbery earlier this year

A federal complaint was filed Monday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the U.S. Attorney’s office in Austin, charging Smith with Bank Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence.

The American National Bank was robbed on Jan. 12 by an armed suspect who forced an employee into he bank at gunpoint, took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot into a wooded area next to the bank.

Investigation into the robbery revealed two similar bank robberies, believed to be committed by the same individual in neighboring cities.

Smith is still in the Hays County Law Enforcement Center under bonds totaling $600,000 for robbery and evading arrest. He was arrested in New Braunfels after leading authorities on a high speed pursuit in the Dollar Store robbery.

Evidence recovered at Smith’s residence from the execution of a search warrant, and at the time of his arrest, led to the filing of the new charges. Federal charges for bank robberies in Luling and Garden Ridge are expected as well.

“We are very relieved to have this violent offender in custody,” said San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) Commander Terry Nichols. “Many different agencies worked together to apprehend this bank robber, and this type of case is a testament to the strong working relationships area law enforcement have with each other.”

Participating agencies in the investigation included SMPD, the Luling Police Department, Garden Ridge Police Department, the Texas Rangers and the FBI. Agencies involved in apprehending Smith included SMPD, Texas State University Police Department, the New Braunfels Police Department, Comal County Sheriff’s and the Texas Highway Patrol.

Christopher Ryan Smith