Newnan Police Tuesday afternoon arrested Columbus bank robbery suspect John E. Johnston at a traffic stop after he had exited his home where a search warrant was about to be served.

The BB&T Bank in Columbus was robbed at approximately 2:00-3:00 p.m. Tuesday, said Newnan Public Information Officer Gina Snider. Columbus Police contacted officers in Newnan after the tag number of the suspect’s vehicle was obtained. The vehicle was registered to an address in Newnan, Snider said.

Snider said a suspect was developed through the work of Det. Sgt. Rick Mies and other officers based on information provided by investigators in Columbus. It was determined the suspect, John E. Johnston, lived at a West Washington Street address in Newnan, said Snider. At that point Columbus detectives obtained an arrest warrent for Johnston, Snider said.

Snider said Newnan officers during their surveillance of the residence observed a man fitting Johnston’s description entering the home. He was driving a car that fit the description of the suspect’s vehicle, a gray Honda Accord, including the same tag number provided by Columbus Police, she added.

Johnston left the residence as Newnan Police were making preparations to execute the warrant. Mires and other officers subsequently made a traffic stop and arrest Johnston without incident, Snider said.

Upon entering Johnston’s residence Newnan and Columbus investigators and FBI agents found evidence linking Johnston to the bank robbery earlier in the day.

Johnston is currently being held in the Muscogee County Jail.

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