St. Johns County bank robbery suspect says he’s not a bad guy

St. Johns County deputies say they’ve caught the man responsible for a banked robbery earlier this month.

The robbery happened at the Ameris Bank on US 1 South. The suspect was accused of showing the teller a gun, demanding money, and then fleeing. The arrest report for 59-year-old Gary Rahme says he got around $12,900 during the robbery.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says witnesses gave them a description of a car they believe the suspect used, and footage of that car and Rahme was then obtained from a gas station. The vehicle was traced to Flagler County, and when SJSO searched Rahme’s home, the arrest report says they found items linking him to the robbery, including “air powered handguns”. Several people also told investigators that Rahme had been walking around with a large sum of money and had confessed to the bank robbery, according to the arrest report.

SJSO says Rahme initially claimed he found the money on the side of the road, but when he was confronted with the information, he said he was not a bad guy and needed money for his family. The arrest report says he added that the gun he flashed during the robbery was not real.

Rahme has been booked in to the Flagler County Jail, pending transfer to St. Johns County.