Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: My 30, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bank robber arrested

Shreveport Police have charged a Shreveport man for robbing the Capital One bank at 3715 Greenwood Road today and on Friday.

John Ellis Birdsong Jr., 40, is facing two counts of simple robbery. He was arrested by quick-responding patrol officers shortly after robbing the bank at about 2:30 p.m. today.

Birdsong allegedly entered the bank, handed the teller a note that demanded money, got it and left. He apparently wasn't expecting a Shreveport Police officer to be outside the bank. When he saw the officer, he took off running and was captured at a nearby gas station.

Birdsong is believed to have robbed the same bank on Friday at about the same time as today's robbery.

The suspect was wearing a wig, which was recovered at a nearby sandwich shop. All of the money taken was also recovered.

He reportedly did not brandish a weapon at the bank, which makes the charge a simple robbery and not an armed robbery.

Mug shot and a photo of suspect inside the bank with the wig is attached.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews