Bank robbery suspect quickly arrested thanks to citizen tip, K9 track

Authorities say a bank robbery suspect was quickly apprehended thanks to a citizen tip and K9 track.

The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Voncel Tate of Smyrna.

According to the Smyrna Police Department, Tate entered the Citizen's Bank on 5 West Commerce Street just before 10 a.m. Thursday wearing a disguise. Police say he approached a teller and demanded money.  

After fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money, authorities say a dye pack hidden with the money exploded inside of his clothing. We're told Tate discarded the proceeds from the robbery and began running away. 

An alert citizen reportedly witnessed this, stayed with the discarded money and called Smyrna Police. 

Authorities say they immediately began a track for the suspect based upon the witness statements, leading officers to a shed in the rear of a home on the 100 block of Lincoln Street. Inside of this shed, officers located clothing covered in dye.  

Officers later found Tate hiding in the rafters of the roof of this shed. He was ordered down from the rafters, where he was taken into custody without further incident.  

Tate was transported to the Smyrna Police Department where he was charged with 2nd degree robbery and wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony.

He was arraigned via video court, where he was subsequently committed to the Department of Corrections in lieu of a 12,000 dollars cash only bond pending a future court hearing.