On August 31, 2015, at approximately 1:30 p.m., law enforcement agencies responded to an armed bank robbery at the SunTrust Bank at 6632 Clinton Highway in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Michael James Ward, age 43 of Powell, Tennessee, was arrested in Knox County, Tennessee without incident through the joint efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF), composed of the FBI, Knoxville Police Department (KPD), Knoxville County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), and the KPD Violent Crimes Unit. KCSO patrol officers also assisted with the arrest.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.