The man wanted in last week’s bank robbery in Roanoke Rapids and an attempted robbery in Fremont had ties to the Wayne County area.
Fremont Police Chief Paul Moats said Brian Garland Lancaster, 46, also lived in Myrtle Beach for a short amount of time.
Moats declined to elaborate on Lancaster’s Wayne County ties but said there were some ulterior motives for the Roanoke Rapids robbery and the Fremont attempt. “I don’t know about his personal life. There are things I’m not at liberty to discuss. He doesn’t have a violent past. He has had ties to this area in the past.”
Moats said the ties and motives could be disclosed as the case progresses.
Moats is credited with first noting similarities between surveillance photos from the Heritage Bank attempt in Fremont and the robbery at Southern Bank in Roanoke Rapids.
“We coordinated with Roanoke Rapids,” he said. “I commend them for working with us. That’s why it went through smoothly. We shared information to accomplish this.”
Lancaster remains at large and his whereabouts are unknown at this time. He is reported to be operating a champagne Nissan Frontier truck with South Carolina tags GXZ-478.
Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department drew up a warrant for Lancaster’s arrest late Monday for a charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon, Major Tommy Hathaway said.
Fremont police drew up warrants for his arrest on attempted armed robbery.
The North Carolina Bankers Association said the Roanoke Rapids bank was held up Wednesday around 10:40 a.m. when a man pointed a gun at employees and demanded money. The man was wearing a dark hooded jacket and a ski cap.
WITN reported that last Tuesday a man tried to rob the Heritage Bank in Fremont just after lunch.
Moats told WITN that after comparing photographs the same man robbed the bank in Roanoke Rapids.
Hathaway said the warrants were the result of a joint investigation between Roanoke Rapids and Fremont authorities.
Anyone who sees Lancaster should call 911 or the nearest law enforcement agency. They may also call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or the Roanoke Rapids Criminal Investigation Division at 252-326-3938. They may also call Wayne County Crimestoppers at 919-735-2255.
