ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995            TAG: 9512210069
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER 


BANK HOLDUP SUSPECT HELD IN N.C. JAIL

A 19-year-old Bedford County man wanted in connection with the robbery of a Lynchburg bank last month was arrested Tuesday in North Carolina.

Bryan Keith Watson of Boonsboro was charged with armed robbery and using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony in the Nov. 29 holdup of the Boonsboro branch of NationsBank. He is awaiting extradition to Virginia.

Rowland, N.C., Police Chief Daniel Bradsher said Watson was arrested during an attempted break-in at a motel just north of the South Carolina line. In his possession, Watson had a BB gun - a reproduction of a .45 caliber pistol - and a car that had been reported stolen from Lynchburg, Bradsher said.

He was charged with breaking and entering and auto theft.

A 15-year-old Bedford County girl who was with Watson also was taken into custody, but she was not charged with any crime, Bradsher said.

A witness to the Lynchburg bank robbery identified Watson as the robber and said he fled in a gray Chevette. Lynchburg police later searched a gray Chevette at Watson's house in Bedford County and found a fragment of a $10 bill stained with red dye.

The witness said a dye pack exploded in the bag of money the robber was carrying.


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