Published: August 27, 2008 08:51 am      

Accused bank robbery suspect

By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

PALO PINTO – Within a week, the man who robbed the First National Bank of Graford is in custody at the Palo Pinto County Jail.

Mineral Wells resident Tommy Zane Ruddy, 51, was arrested Friday evening by Parker County sheriff’s deputies at the behest of Palo Pinto County officials on a Mills County warrant for theft greater than $1,500 and less than $20,000.

“He was the only one involved,” said Sheriff Ira Mercer, nixing the possibility of a second suspect.

The bank in Graford was robbed on Aug. 20 when an individual walked in about 3 p.m. and demanded cash while displaying a small handgun. According to officials with the sheriff’s department, the bank gave the robber $59,888 and he left, heading north.

The sheriff explained they determined Ruddy to be a possible suspect through the course of their investigation. According to the sheriff, Ruddy was a former city marshal for Graford approximately 20 years ago and was a deputy approximately 18 years ago.

“He was someone familiar to us,” Mercer said, adding that Ruddy knew the area and had the matching body size and style. Inquiry into Ruddy’s recent activities led authorities to discovering his vehicle in Weatherford and, according to Mercer, “things just kept rolling.”

Once Ruddy became a suspect, “we found where he was in Parker County at a self storage,” Mercer said.

Parker County sheriff’s deputies arrested him Friday night and booked him into the Parker County jail at 7:35 p.m. on Friday. He was transported to Palo Pinto County Jail Monday where he confessed to the robbery, officials said.

According to officials, Ruddy said he took Farm-to-Market Road 4 to a dirt road where he ditched his clothes and weapon before traveling north to Wichita Falls and into Oklahoma. Ruddy reportedly ran the money through slot machines in a casino before coming back to Palo Pinto County.

“We recovered $2,500 cash, receipts from the casino,” Mercer said. He added that they recovered approximately $53,000 at the scene. Officials were still searching on Tuesday for the weapon used in the robbery.

Ruddy was charged with aggravated robbery, which is a first-degree felony offense and as a 3-G offense, requires at least 50 percent of assessed confinement to be served upon conviction. Mercer said there could also be a federal case filed as the incident involved a bank.

“We worked the case with the Texas Rangers and the FBI,” Mercer said. “We’re very pleased to have the case solved and behind us. It was a great team effort.”

Ruddy remained in Palo Pinto County Jail Tuesday evening with his bond set at $250,000.