On Nov. 12, Mansfield Police Officer James Reed was working an off-duty security detail for Directions Credit Union located at 460 South Diamond Street. Officer Reed was in uniform, standing in the lobby area, when an armed suspect entered the bank brandishing a handgun.
The suspect observed Officer Reed and then fled the bank on foot. Officer Reed chased after the armed suspect toward a residential area. Officer Reed was able to tase the fleeing suspect and ended the foot pursuit. The would-be robber was then arrested.
The suspect’s loaded handgun was found to have been reported stolen in 2011. The suspect was identified as Joseph A. Smith.
Chief Ken Coontz stated that he was very proud of the courage and relentless pursuit that Officer Reed displayed in foiling a potentially life-threatening armed robbery. Local FBI Agent Bryan Yingling will be presenting the case for Federal Charges.
