Peoples Bank & Trust in Altamont Robbed; Suspects In Custody

Peoples Bank & Trust in Altamont was robbed Tuesday afternoon, briefly putting the nearby Altamont Grade School on lockdown.

Two suspects in the holdup are in custody after being stopped by Illinois State Police in Bond County.

The holdup occurred around 2pm.  Authorities did not disclose whether a weapon was displayed.  An undisclosed amount of money was given the suspect who fled on foot.  Two suspects in a vehicle then headed west on I-70 before being stopped by State Police at the westernmost Greenville exit just before 3pm.  Authorities have confirmed that speeds during the pursuit exceeded 100MPH.

The suspects in the holdup, 37-year-old Altonio Graves of Florissant, Missouri and 26-year-old Annalise McGhee of St. Louis, were returned to Effingham County Jail Tuesday evening and are being held on counts of armed robbery and aggravated robbery.

Greenville radio station WGEL reports that State Police placed stop strips on the roadway and the driver of the suspect vehicle tried to go around the strips.  Reportedly, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it ended up in the median.  Police closed in on the vehicle and the suspects surrendered.

Reportedly, surveillance video from Altamont Grade School was used to identify the suspect vehicle.

Altamont Police Chief Alan Heiens said that no shots were fired during the holdup and that no one was injured.

When Altamont school officials learned of the holdup, they placed Altamont Grade School on lockdown status.  The school building is about a block east of the bank, and initial reports were that the suspect fled the bank on foot, leading to the lockdown decision.