NEWS RELEASE







For further information please contact: CPL. Jon Parrish #938



314-340-4028



C030308



03-06-03



EMPHASIS: Pursuit and Capture of Armed Robbery Suspects







At approximately 11:00 a.m., on March 6, 2003, a bank robbery occurred at the First National Bank in Ashland, Missouri. Two suspects left the scene in a blue Ford Tempo and were described as white males. At 12:30 p.m. the Rosebud Police Department notified the Missouri State Highway Patrol that they were in pursuit of a vehicle for a traffic violation. At 12:34 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol joined the pursuit, assisting the Rosebud Police Department, as surrounding agencies attempted to get into position to assist.







The pursuit traveled from the intersection of Hwy. 50 and Old Hwy. 50, south on Klemme Road. The suspect saw a Gerald Police Department car approaching from the opposite direction and turned his vehicle around. The suspects proceeded north toward the pursuing officers. As the vehicles neared a hill crest, the Rosebud police officer was able to avoid a collision. However, the state trooper who was behind the Rosebud officer was unable to do so, and the suspect vehicle struck the trooper's vehicle head-on. The trooper and the Rosebud officer then took both occupants of the vehicle into custody.







At this time, it was discovered that the occupants were the suspects in the Ashland bank robbery. The suspects have been identified as Jeffrey Hershberger, age 38, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Harold Harmon, age 20, also of Ottumwa. Hershberger was injured during the crash and was transported to St. John's Hospital in Washington, Missouri. Hershberger also has felony warrants in Iowa for robbery, theft, and escape from confinement. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control are on the scene and the investigation continues.







The charges for which the suspects have been arrested are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.