WESSON – Police Chief Steve Carlisle answered criticism Thursdayby saying he is proud of Officer Phillip Sterling’s decision not toapprehend the bank robber on the scene of the robbery at theTrustmark National Bank on Tuesday.

“I back him 100 percent,” said Carlisle of Sterling, who was theonly officer on duty that day. “His car was within 10 feet of thebank door. We didn’t want to cause a shootout.”

Carlisle reported receiving criticism from area media outlets aswell as various citizens regarding Sterling’s decision not toconfront the criminal. The chief maintained Sterling was working inthe best interests of the town.

“We’ve got some gunslingers around here that wanted us to just havea shootout downtown,” said Carlisle.

Carlisle said based upon the suspect’s composure as well as hiscarriage, not to mention the fact that he is a suspected serialbank robber, Sterling was safe in assuming the perpetrator wouldnot have been captured without a fight.

“He doesn’t appear to be one to just throw his hands up and give upto the police,” said Carlisle. “The officer here used his bestjudgment and went by protocol and bank procedures. As many peopleas were around the bank at the time, he made the right call.”

The robbery occurred just after school had let out. So in additionto there being everyday foot traffic on the streets surrounding thebank and a busy retail store next door, there was a much higherprobability of someone being caught in the crossfire.

“The officer knew the robber was armed, and used his best judgmentnot to cause a shootout,” he said. “It’s better to lose some money(than) to cause some child, or anyone for that matter, to be hurtor taken hostage.”

Carlisle pointed out that oftentimes with a bank robbery therecould be more than one robber in the area. He also said it’s hardto know what to expect from any armed criminal, especially with aperpetrator who seems to be as sophisticated and composed as thisone.

“The officer on duty didn’t know if there could be anothersurveilling car, or more than one person involved or anything,” hesaid. “He knew there was an armed suspect in the bank, but hedidn’t have any way of knowing more than that.”

The Wesson bank robber is believed to be the same one responsiblefor recent robberies in Laurel, Terry and Tylertown.

“We’re looking at the bigger picture,” said Special Agent JasonPack of the FBI. “We suspect this man is responsible for at leastfour, and one attempted bank robbery throughout central Mississippisince December of last year.

“Most of the robberies the getaway car is a red or maroon NissanAltima or Maxima,” Pack continued. “But there was a blue vehicle inthis robbery which we believe is a Volvo.”

Carlisle said the Copiah and Lincoln County sheriff’s departments,as well as the Brookhaven Police Department, canvassed the areasurrounding Wesson just after the escape, but the perpetrator hadalmost literally vanished.

From comparing notes with law enforcement officials injurisdictions where the other robberies have happened, Carlisle themethods used in the crimes, as well as the escapes, are verysimilar.

“I talked to every police agency that’s been on this investigation,and he just disappears,” he said. “He probably cased the area wellahead of time, and he’s not only armed, he’s probably well-armed.He’s obviously a professional.”

Pack said the FBI is searching for a white male, 5’9″ – 6’1″, inhis early to mid 30s. In most of the robberies he has had a goatee,glasses and brown to sandy blonde hair.

Anyone with information on any of the crimes is urged to call theFBI at (601)948-5000. Callers may remain anonymous if they sochoose.