Little Rock police arrested a woman after an attempted bank robbery Thursday, and they believe she held up a separate bank in September.
Officers were called about 2:10 p.m. Thursday to an Iberia Bank branch at 10900 Colonel Glenn Road. An employee, Susan Bowers, 59, had seen a woman pull out a black and silver handgun before entering the business, according to a police report. Bowers yelled that the woman was armed, drawing the attention of her co-workers and security guards. The woman "casually" walked back outside and fled, the report states.
No injuries were reported, and nothing was taken.
Police searched the area for a black woman wearing a white hoodie, black burqa and black pants. They were approached by Herbie Martin, 59, who said a woman nearby was "acting very strange" and had asked him for gasoline, according to the report.
Officers found the woman, whom they identified as Shaneka Jones, 36, of Morrilton, in the parking lot of the Clear Channel Metroplex, just east of the bank at 10800 Colonel Glenn Road. Police said she matched the description of the robbery suspect, and they found a black and silver handgun in her vehicle. Jones was arrested.
After questioning Jones, investigators came to believe she had tried to rob an Iberia Bank branch at 6420 S. University Ave. on the afternoon of Sept. 30, police said. In that holdup, a woman entered the bank with her face covered, implied she had a bomb and demanded $40,000.
The woman told a teller that three men had been threatening her, and "if she didn't bring them the $40,000 she would explode," police said. At one point, the robber asked bank employees to call police. She fled, empty-handed, when a security guard tried to detain her.
Jones was charged with aggravated robbery in both holdups.
She was additionally charged with obstructing governmental operations. Police said Jones gave officers a fake name before she was arrested Thursday.
Court records show Jones has been convicted of theft of property and felony forgery in the past.
She was being held in the Pulaski County jail Friday.
Metro on 11/14/2015