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CLARENCE, MO. -- Police in Shelby County Mo. are investigating a bank robbery that occurred Thursday afternoon in the city of Clarence.

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Shelby County Sheriff's Department responded to the Community State Bank at approximately 1:45 p.m. for a reported robbery.

Preliminary information indicated the suspect, later identified as Cody A. Barber, 26, of Moulton, Iowa entered the  bank with a handgun, demanded money, and fled the area on foot with an undetermined amount of money.

A short time later, a citizen observed a white male matching Barber's description enter a blue Pontiac, which was parked in a nearby parking lot, and drive away. That citizen was able to follow the vehicle out of Clarence and onto Shelby County roads just northeast of Clarence while advising responding police officers.

Officers quickly located the blue Pontiac abandoned on a county road approximately 1 1/2 miles northeast of Clarence where they set up a search perimeter and utilized a Patrol aircraft.

At approximately 2:50 p.m., a canine unit located the suspect and was able to take him into custody.

Barber was arrested for first degree robbery and is being held in the Shelby County Jail pending issuance of a warrant.

The investigation is ongoing and law enforcement officers are investigating the possibility of an accomplice.

Captain James Wilt, commanding officer of Troop B, Macon, and Shelby County Sheriff Dennis Perrigo would like to express appreciation to local citizens and bank officials who were able to provide information that ultimately lead to the capture of the suspect.