Staff Writer

April 3, 2000 9 PM

Exhausted officers have spent the past five days searching for one of the three men suspected of robbing a Troy bank late Wednesday afternoon.

Benny Scarbrough, public information officer for the Troy Police Department, said officers are "vigorously searching" northern Pike County in the Shady Grove area for the fugitive.

Although sightings of the man believed to be Constantine Burt have been reported over the past few days, the suspect is still not in custody.

The manhunt continued Monday for the man believed to be one of the armed men who robbed the Region’s Bank branch on Park Street on the afternoon of Mar. 29.

"We’re in this for the long haul," Scarbrough said. "He’s going to be actively sought by us wherever he goes."

According to information released by the TPD, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has obtained a federal warrant for robbery on Burt, who is described as a 26-year-old black male, standing 5’10" tall and weighing 160 pounds. The warrant resulted from a March 29 robbery at Regions Bank on Park Street in Troy.

In addition to being sought by local officers, Burt is also wanted by Florida authorities for kidnapping and questioning in an armed bank robbery in that state. The suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous.

Scarbrough said residents in the area where Burt has been spotted have reported some burglaries and the theft of a couple of bicycles. He said it is unknown whether the robbery suspect had any connection with those incidents.

"He has an extensive (criminal) history according to leads we’ve been following," Scarbrough said.

Troy officials are being assited by the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, Montgomery County, Crenshaw County, the 12th Judiciary Drug Task Force, the Alabama State Troopers, the FBI and canines from Kilby Correctional Facility.

Troy Police Chief Anthony Everage expressed his appreciation for the assistance other agencies have given his department.

Having more officers and dogs on the ground allows those who have been working since Wednesday night to have some rest.

"Some of these guys haven’t had much sleep," Scarbrough said.

The bank robbery case has been turned over to the FBI. Agents from the FBI’s office in Montgomery transported two suspects arrested in connection with the robbery to Montgomery for questioning.

Those men are Herbert Johnson and Claude Mims of Troy. Mims is described as being 18 and Johnson is in his mid-20s.