Police Connect Dots In Bank Robberies

Two Jacksonville men who were arrested and charged with a bank robbery Monday in St. Johns County are now facing charges in connection with the July 20 robbery of a Palm Coast bank.

Charges of armed robbery were filed Tuesday by Flagler County Sheriff's detectives against Christopher Jefferson, 23, and Gregory Parrish, 25. Both are being charged with the armed robbery of National City Bank in Palm Coast earlier this month.

One of the two men admitted their part in the Palm Coast robbery after questioning by Flagler County Sheriff's detectives. Warrants for their arrests have been obtained by Flagler detectives.

The two were stopped by St. Johns County Sheriff's Deputies after the 9:30 a.m. robbery of Bank of America on South U.S. 1 in St. Augustine Monday. St. Johns County deputies stopped the 2006 Dodge Stratus that was driven by Parrish after receiving a description of the vehicle involved in the robbery.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the location of a receipt showing that an air pistol had been purchased at the Palm Coast Wal-Mart less than a half an hour before the National City Bank robbery. Store surveillance tapes show Parrish and Jefferson at the register making the purchase.

"The detectives did an outstanding job of putting the pieces together to bring charges against these two suspects," Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming said. "We are fortunate both men are now behind bars because they most likely would have continued this robbery spree."

Both men are currently being held in the St. Johns County Inmate Facility on charges stemming from the St. Augustine robbery. Jefferson is being held on $250,000 bond on the robbery with a firearm charge. Parrish has a $100,000 bond on the same charge.