Austell Police Help Capture Suspected 'Dreaded Bandit' and Armed Robbery Crew

The FBI was able to arrest four men, including one known as the "Dreaded Bandit," suspected of being part of an armed robbery crew, in Austell on Sept. 7, because of a traffic stop by an Austell Police officer.

Sgt. Robert Sfreddo, conducted a traffic stop after receiving reports that these individuals were acting in a suspicious manner at the PNC Bank, located at 2913 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Austell.

The suspects were driving a silver Buick Park Avenue, which officers knew as the vehicle described in an earlier area bank robbery.

The FBI then charged the four individuals–Jason Blackwell, Torrey Marable, Deandre Markee King and Rico Blackwell– on Thursday with conspiracy to commit bank robbery at the Austell PNC branch. One of the suspects is called the "Dreaded Bandit" because of his dreadlock hairstyle.

They are also being considered as suspects in three other armed robberies–one on Aug. 28 at a BB&T branch in Marietta, a second on Aug. 20 at the PNC Bank branch in Dunwoody, and another on Aug. 9 at the Fifth Third Bank branch on Piedmont Road in Buckhead.