Man in Bank Tells Tall Tale

April 05, 2007 Ruth Sasser, PAS
For Immediate Release 747-4700, ext. 2117

Man in Bank Tells Tall Tale

The Bay County Sheriffs Office received a call this morning at 9:39 from an employee of the Regions Bank at 103 S. Tyndall Parkway in reference to a suspicious person.

Deputies arrived at the bank by 9:44 a.m. and entered the bank where they found employees with a white male, Charles Anthony Miller, DOB 6/24/77, of Chipley, who told them the same story he had been telling bank employees. He stated he needed $500.00 in cash because several black males had abducted him the day before, held him against his will, and were forcing him to give them cash to pay an old debt they believed he owed them, but he claimed he knew nothing about. Miller went on to state that one of the black males, Marvin Williams, DOB 7/8/62, was in fact sitting in a chair in the lobby of the bank at that moment.

Williams was taken into custody at 9:49. Marijuana was found on his person and he was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana less than 20 grams.

Miller also informed deputies that several other black males were waiting for him outside the bank in a green camaro. When deputies went to talk with the men in the green camaro, the driver, Devonte Levoris Pace, DOB 4/14/87, of Panama City, fled on foot. Deputies gave chase but Pace was able to escape. A search of the vehicle revealed the presence of illegal narcotics. Warrants have been issued for Pace on charges of Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 1000 feet of a church; Resisting an Officer Without Violence; Driving while License Suspended; and Failure to Register as a Convicted Felon.

Another black male originally in the green camaro, was found at a nearby fast food restaurant when employees of that restaurant called for help because the man had entered the restaurant and it had not yet opened for business. The employees, aware something involving law enforcement was happening at the bank next door, were alarmed when the man suddenly appeared at the counter. Deputies came and talked with the man. It was determined he had entered through a door that had accidentally been left open, and, although he did come with the men in the green camaro, he was unaware of what was happening at the bank and was simply hungry and also planned to ask for a job application.

After investigators interviewed Miller and Williams, they learned that Miller had been on a crack binge since yesterday afternoon and had consumed more crack than he had money and owed Pace and Williams money to pay for his drugs. Miller was arrested and charged with False Report of a Crime.

Anyone with information on Devonte Pace is asked to contact the Bay County Sheriffs Office at 747-4700 or CrimeStoppers at 785-TIPS.

Prepared by R. Sasser
Information by Inv. M. Walton