ZEIGLER – A Salem man has been arrested and charged in connection with Tuesday morning’s armed robbery at Southern Illinois Bank in Zeigler.
Zeigler Police Chief Ben Burkhamer says Earl M. Morlan is charged with Armed Robbery and is in the Franklin County Jail after being arrested Wednesday by Du Quoin Police following a 911 call Morlan made to Du Quoin. Morlan was taken to a local hospital. Afterwards, Burkhamer picked him up at the hospital to take him to jail.
Zeigler Police responded to the bank after getting a report of an armed robbery at 10:30 Tuesday morning.
Police began their investigation and released a picture of Morlan who was identified as the suspect. Morlan fled the scene after robbing the bank.
Several law enforcement agencies across southern Illinois including IDNR Conservation Police and the FBI were involved looking for Morlan who we mentioned was arrested by police in Du Quoin.
No further information is available according to Chief Burkhamer.
Our sister station in Mt. Vernon, WMIX, is reporting that Morlan was scheduled to be sentenced next week in Marion County on 2021 felony theft and fleeing police charges. A more serious charge of vehicle theft was dismissed in the case per the plea agreement.
He’s accused in that case of driving a stolen vehicle to a home in Kinmundy to test drive a truck that was for sale. The truck’s owner later reported it stolen when Morlan allegedly didn’t return.
A gas station in Central City later reported Morlan had purchased cigarettes and gas for the truck but left without paying when his debit card didn’t have sufficient funds.
Law enforcement later spotted Morlan driving the truck in Ina and a high speed pursuit ensued across Jefferson and Marion counties before Morlan was apprehended in Salem.