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Man wanted by FBI accused of robbing Clay County bank arrested in Lakeland

Myron William Ernst (Clay County Sheriff's Office)

11/15 UPDATE: The Ocala Police Department announced Thursday that Myron William Ernst was arrested in Lakeland after being pulled over for a traffic violation.

Ernst is being charged with attempted armed robbery.

ORIGINAL STORY

A man who authorities say has been traveling the Southeast and robbing banks has reportedly struck again in Clay County.

Myron William Ernst was identified by deputies as the suspect who robbed the SunTrust Bank at 296 Blanding Blvd. on Wednesday. Ernst also robbed the nearby Bank of America robbery on Oct. 9, deputies said.

Retired Air Force veteran C.W. Hughes drove past the scene this morning.

“Everything was blocked off all around," said Hughes. "You couldn't’ get in. They need to catch him. That's all I can say. It scares the hell out of them people in there when something like that happens."

Ernst is suspected in at least four bank robberies in the past two months. The FBI says he has used 14 aliases that they know of.

Ernst is a probation violator in South Carolina and is linked to "many" other bank robberies, Clay County authorities said.

"He’s been around South Carolina, Alabama and all over down South doing these. We believe he’s traveling back and forth," the Clay County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

JACKSONVILLE AREA: This man is a suspect in several bank robberies across the state. He is a suspect in the holdup of...

Posted by Action News Jax on Wednesday, November 14, 2018