Mark Anthony Lasher
by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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Mark Anthony Lasher
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With the assistance of Gilmer County Sheriff’s deputies, agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested a Gilmer County man last Wednesday, Jan. 5, in connection with a New Year’s Eve day robbery of the Bank of North Georgia in Jasper.
Mark Anthony Lasher, 43, of Coosawattee River Resort, was arrested without incident, and evidence from the bank robbery was recovered at his home. He has been charged with one count of robbery.
According to GBI Special Agent in Charge John Cagle, Lasher entered the Bank of North Georgia’s Jasper branch at 10:46 a.m., produced a bag, and demanded money. He threatened to kill the bank tellers if they tried to trick him, used a dye pack, or activated an alarm.
Lasher then exited the bank and drove away in a truck. Bank employees were able to give law enforcement officers a detailed description of the suspect and the getaway vehicle.
Jasper Police Chief Harold Cantrell called the GBI for assistance in solving the crime.
Cantrell contacted Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan Wednesday, Jan. 5, and asked Callahan if he would join him in riding around to the banks in Ellijay and East Ellijay and showing the pictures from the bank’s surveillance camera to local tellers. Employees at two local banks recognized Lasher and reported it to the police officers.
Gilmer County sheriff’s deputies and detectives were dispatched to a house in Coosawattee River Resort to monitor activity until a search warrant could be obtained. Cagle told the Times-Courier, “The officers from the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department did an excellent job monitoring the residence until we could obtain and execute the search warrant.”
Lasher was taken to Pickens County for processing where he remains in jail.