Crime & Safety

Police Arrest Man Hiding in Ceiling of a Sandy Springs Bank

A tactical call out was made to North Metro SWAT after a man broke into a Wells Fargo branch.

From Sandy Springs Police Lt. Steve Rose.

On Sunday evening at about 5:30 p.m., Sandy Springs Police received a bank alarm at the Wells Fargo Bank 1034 Hammond Drive. The responding officer found evidence of forced entry into the bank. On further check, the officer saw a person inside the bank, who retreated when spotted.

A perimeter around the bank was quickly set up and a tactical call out was made to North Metro SWAT, consisting of Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, and Dunwoody Police Officers, SWAT medic teams and other support personnel.

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Hammond Drive, from Peachtree Dunwoody Road to the new GA 400 / Hammond Drive ramp was closed for three hours during the standoff.

At 6:20 p.m. negotiators installed a phone inside the bank in an attempt to establish contact with the suspect inside. No word was received. Contact was attempted until just after 8 p.m. when the SWAT and K-9 members entered the bank.

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Inside, they found 50-year old Tyrus Barnett, who had retreated up and into the drop ceiling area of the bank. Barnett, in an attempt to eluded the SWAT officers, fell through the drop ceiling and onto the bank floor. He was then apprehended. No other persons were found in the bank.

It is not clear why Barnett chose a bank to burglarize. Investigators are at the scene putting together the information to determine the motive. Barnett is being treated at Northside Hospital for an injury to his leg, as a result of the fall.


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