A Chester man is in custody for the robbery of the Bank of Goochland April 2 at 1:45 pm.

Cecil Justin Barker, 28, was apprehended after a high-speed chace from Goochland County to Albemarle County.

According to Sheriff James Agnew, the incident began this afternoon when a man wearing a hooded gray sweat shirt burst through the front door of the Bank of Goochland in Goochland Courthouse.  After displaying what appeared to be a semi automatic handgun, the man ordered bank employees to lie on the floor.

He then jumped the counter and rifled the cash drawers before running back through the front doors, said Agnew.

Bank employees were able to activate hold-up alarms, and sheriff’s deputies were alerted shortly afterwards.

A Goochland volunteer fireman heard the call on his scanner and caught sight of the vehicle as it was leaving the parking area near the bank. He was able to provide a description of the vehicle and a direction of travel.

Deputies arrived and gave chase north bound on Rt 522 , but lost sight of the vehicle near Interstate 64.

Virginia State Police then pursued the car west bound on Interstate 64, during a high-speed chase that ended after Albemarle Police deployed spike strips near Charlottesville.  The vehicle wrecked and troopers began a foot pursuit.

State Police, Albemarle Police and Goochland Deputies set up a perimeter and the man was apprehended after State Police canine dogs tracked him down.

Money taken in the robbery was recovered from the car.

Goochland County Public Schools followed a precautionary lockdown policy until the suspect left the county at around 3 p.m.

Barker has been charged with bank robbery, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and wearing a mask in a public place.

Other charges from the VA State Police are pending.