IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: July 9, 2008           

Contact: Gary Johnson, (405) 290-3678

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – Michael B. Ward, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oklahoma, and William Citty, Chief, Oklahoma City Police Department, announced the arrest of Ryan Christopher Hitchins, 29, of Dallas, Texas, related to a Bank Robbery in Plano, Texas.

Hitchins was wanted per a Texas State warrant for the June 30, 2008 robbery of Texans Credit Union in Plano, Texas.

Hitchins is expected to be charged this morning for Federal Bank Robbery related to the July 7, 2008 robbery of Bank of America, 3501 N. MacArthur, Warr Acres, Oklahoma.

Hitchins was identified as a suspect following close coordination with FBI Dallas, Plano Police Department, Dallas Police Department, and Bank of America security personnel. Hitchins is a suspect in several recent robberies in the Dallas, Plano, and Addison areas.

Yesterday evening, an Oklahoma City Police Department Gang Enforcement Unit officer noticed a vehicle with a damaged windshield. After checking the license plate, the officer determined that it was expired. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer recognized the driver as the suspect of the July 7 Bank of America robbery. Hitchins was arrested without incident. Hitchins information had been disseminated to Oklahoma City Police Department’s Intelligence Unit who provided it to all officers in the city.

The investigation into the June 7 robbery of Bank of America was conducted by the FBI and Warr Acres Police Department.