A not guilty plea was entered for him and his bond was set at $50,000.
Security National Bank President John Brown told the News-Sun on Tuesday that he was thankful for both the actions of his staff at the branch— and law enforcement that led to an arrest in the case.
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“Their quick response and diligence also played a significant role in a suspect being arrested less than 12 hours after the robbery,” he said.
Brown said the security measures in place at SNB branches are proprietary, above industry standards and are continually monitored for appropriateness — stating in part, “But, no matter what security measures you have in place, there are irrational and senseless criminals that think they can get away with this crime. But, it just isn’t true. Bank robberies are one of the least successful crimes a person can commit with very high apprehension rates.”
The same branch was also held up on Jan. 6 by a suspect with a similar description as in the robbery on Jan. 18.
Springfield Police said they were looking at Newport as a possible suspect in the Jan. 6 robbery prior to the latest heist, according to the affidavit, but he had only been charged with the most recent robbery as of Tuesday evening.
Court documents filed in the case say that Newport went into the bank and jumped up on the counter.
“He fell as he came over, at which time he had a gun in one hand and a black bag in the other hand. He then began to demand money.” an affidavit reads.
Newport then allegedly ran out of the bank and flagged a man down to give him a ride to his house, for which he gave him “a wad of one hundreds and fifties,” according to the affidavit.
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The man denied having any involvement in the robbery.
A few hours after the robbery, officers and Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the car that Newport was driving at an apartment complex on Delta Road and tried to stop him — but he ran off.
While law enforcement officers searched for him, others searched the car he was driving and found a handgun and a red bag with a mask in it.
About six hours after the robbery, officers got information that Newport was hiding in a dumpster at Kenwood Elementary School on Nagley Street — where he was found and taken into custody.
Court documents say it “appeared he was high and he admitted to using heroin.”
Police say he also has warrants out of Champaign County.
Newport was still listed as an inmate in the Clark County Jail as of Tuesday evening.
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