A teenager accused of robbing a Fayetteville bank last month pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Friday (Nov. 8) at the Washington County Detention Center.
Zachary Porter, 18, is charged with aggravated robbery and terroristic threatening. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 14, records show.
Porter is accused of robbing the Metropolitan National Bank at 3971 W. Wedington Dr. in Fayetteville on Oct. 9.
Officers were told a man walked into the bank and handed the teller a note implying he had a bomb, according to Fayetteville police.
Investigators said the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and was later caught by police on Persimmon Street.
No one was hurt in the incident, and police did not find a bomb in the bank, said Sgt. Craig Stout, police spokesman.
Porter was jailed in the Washington County Detention Center, and his bond was set at $50,000, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Police said Porter told them he needed money for rent. But Porter’s roommate said he does not buy that.
“I know he is supposed to pay us $150 every two weeks, and it is coming up where he is to do one payment,” roommate Marty White said. “But, I did tell him as long as he had a job, we would take care of the bills till the 1st and he could just give it to us in full with his first check.”
White said Porter had a job interview scheduled at a Taco Bell the day after the bank incident.
“He just turned 18. He’s still a kid. He is young and dumb and he ruined his life.”
