Suspect Arrested In Arkansas, Oklahoma Bank Robberies

Associated Press

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Fort Smith Police tracked a suspected bank robber through his mobile phone before he was arrested by authorities in Yell County.

Larry Eugene Walden of Stigler, Oklahoma, was picked up Monday outside a motel in Dardanelle. The 57-year-old Walden is charged with the Friday robbery of a bank in Fort Smith and is suspected of robberies in the Oklahoma cities of Poteau, McAlester and Sallisaw.

4/23/2009 Related story: Authorities Look For Poteau Bank Robbery Suspect

5/1/2009 Related story: Sallisaw Bank Robbery Suspect Sought

From Walden's mobile phone, police concluded he was in the Russellville/Dardanelle area and asked agencies in Pope and Yell counties to keep an eye open for him.

Yell County authorities saw Walden's vehicle Monday at the Economy Inn and set up a watch outside.  Before Fort Smith police could reach the scene, about 80 miles away, Walden left his room and was arrested.