Initial information gathered at the scene indicated three men entered the store walked and into the bank area. Police say witness statements and evidence at the scene indicated one suspect approached the bank manager and displayed a weapon. A second suspect jumped across the counter, produced a handgun, and pointed it at the teller. It is believed the third suspect possibly acted as a lookout in the area between the bank and the store.
It is believed that during the course of the robbery, the suspects became nervous and left the bank without retrieving any money. The suspects were seen leaving the bank in a light blue minivan. Moments later and less than a mile from the scene, a Willis Police Department plainclothes investigator observed the van and the suspects in the area of Riverpointe Drive. The suspects exited the minivan and entered a blue BMW passenger car and fled towards I-45. At that time, the robbery and description of the suspects had not been reported. The investigator observed the suspect's actions to be suspicious and reported the information to the Conroe Police Department dispatchers. At the same time, dispatchers were taking information from the bank personnel. The investigator followed the vehicle and relayed information to uniformed officers.
Police agencies in south Montgomery County were notified of the robbery and suspects' direction of travel. As the suspect vehicle approached The Woodlands, several police agencies spotted the suspects and began to close in on the suspects. The suspect vehicle was traveling at speeds over 100 miles per hour. The vehicle left the roadway just south of the Woodlands Parkway and became disabled in the grassy area between the main lanes of I-45 and the feeder road. The vehicle sustained extensive damage and the suspects fled from the vehicle traveling west.
Conroe Police officers and investigators with assistance from other agencies established a perimeter and began searching for the suspects. During the course of the search, a Conroe Police officer discharged his weapon when he was unexpectedly approached by an unknown male subject. The subject was carrying an object in his hand when he approached the officer. Neither the male subject nor the officer was injured. A separate investigation of the incident will be conducted by the Conroe Police Department Office of Professional Conduct.
Two suspects were later arrested in a wooded area west of I-45. Both suspects were transported to the Conroe Police Department for processing and interviews. The suspects have been identified as 28-year-old Charston Louis Meachum and 21-year-old Norman Kent Adams. Meachum had a felony warrant out from Harris County, a parole violation warrant is charged with one count of aggravated robbery. Adams also is facing a charge of aggravated robbery.
Officers at the scene also detained a third subject for questioning, but that person hasn't been formally charged.The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are still following up on leads.
