FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A Springdale man accused of robbing the United Bank on Joyce Boulevard in Fayetteville on June 17 has pleaded not guilty, according to court documents.
Scott Walker, 52, pleaded not guilty to charges related to the robbery, including aggravated robbery, causing a catastrophe, and theft of property, on July 8.
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His trial is set for July 25. Until then, Walker is being held on a $100,000 bond in the Washington County Jail.
On June 17, the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) received a call about a man "presenting a suspicious item on the counter that he said was an explosive device, before demanding money and fleeing on foot" at United Bank.
After ensuring the area was safe, FPD confirmed the suspect fled with an unknown amount of money.
A preliminary report released on June 19 said that when officials arrived, the bank employees were at a nearby business. The employees said the suspect had gone into the bank alone, told them he "had an earpiece," and said the "bomb would detonate if police were called."
Investigators found a surveillance video showing the suspect changing clothes "in the tree line near the bank." According to officials, he changed into a gray shirt, black pants, and black shoes and left on a bike. The release states the suspect then got on a public transit bus.
The release said an investigator was on the bus and made contact with him, identifying him as Walker. At this time, the investigator was not aware of the updated description. After looking into it, officials found that Walker was a registered sex offender with an active search waiver on file, so they went to his home on Brunswick Street.
Officials said investigators entered the home searching for Walker but did not find him. However, they did find items related to the crime after completing a subsequent warrant. The release said investigators found materials used to make the fake bomb and clothing that matched the descriptions.
On Tuesday, June 18, Springdale police found Walker with a black bag like the one seen in the surveillance video, with a "large sum of money." Walker was taken to the police department, where he admitted to the crime and discussed details only known to investigators, according to the report.
June report:
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