Local law enforcement officers helped U.S. Marshals capture a man identified as a suspect in a Russell County bank robbery.

Rasheen Jahmal Smith, 29, of Russell County, was arrested Friday in Troy, after the federal investigation had brought agents to China Grove in Pike County.

He has been identified as a suspect in a bank robbery that took place April 13, in Hurtsboro and was arrested Friday on a federal warrant for the unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to a release from the U.S. Marshals Service, both Pike County Sheriff’s Deputies and Troy Police assisted in the investigation and arrest. After arriving in the China Grove area, deputies developed a confidential source who provided a vehicle description for Smith. The source told marshals that he was unsure of Smith’s whereabouts, but deputies relayed the vehicle information to Troy Police Officers and Pike County Sheriff Deputies.

A short time later Smith’s vehicle was located in the area of Charles Henderson Middle School.

“Marshals had warrants for his arrest out of Russell County and provided us with a vehicle description,” said Lt. Bryan Weed of the Troy Police Department. “Officers made contact with the vehicle in the Aster Avenue area and attempted to make a traffic stop.”

Weed said Smith fled the scene on vehicle and finally came to a stop at the Union Hill Church located on Alabama Highway 29 North.

At that time Marshals took custody of Smith. There was another individual in the vehicle with Smith, and the passenger inside the vehicle was also detained but the individual was later released without incident.

Following Smith’s arrest, Middle District of Alabama U.S. Marshal Arthur Baylor said Smith’s history had included unlawful possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance amongst other charges.

“Smith also recently served a 14 month federal prison sentence for federal probation violation,” Baylor said. “This goes to show that when law enforcement resources are combined, fugitives may flee but they will not get away. I would like to thank the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Troy Police Department and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department for their collaborative efforts in taking this violent criminal off the streets of our community.”

Weed said the Police Department appreciated the hard work of the U.S. Marshal Service and hoped to be able to assist them in future cases.

“We appreciate all the hard work the Marshal Service does,” Weed said. “We have always gotten lots of cooperation from them throughout the years, and we appreciate the hard work they do in apprehending fugitives for all agencies in the surrounding areas of the states.”

According to the Marshals’ release, Investigators with the Russell County Alabama Sheriff’s Office found a .38 revolver, approximately 1/3 of a kilogram of cocaine, and a very large sum of assorted United States currency inside Smith’s resident.]. It should also be noted that $759.00 was located inside of the vehicle that Smith was occupying. Smith was transported to the Montgomery City Jail and was scheduled to have his initial appearance for the federal weapons offense later that same day.