A 38-year old Tallapoosa man is facing numerous serious charges in Carroll County – after he appeared to have plans to enter the Wells Fargo Bank on Bankhead Highway in Carrollton with an AR-Platform rifle. Officers arrived as the suspect was standing outside his vehicle with his weapon.
Police were alerted to respond to the bank around 4:00pm Thursday.
A witness told police that he was on the drive-thru entrance side of the bank where he then visited the walk-up ATM at the north entrance of the bank. The witness said while starting his transaction, he witnessed a white male walk up to him from a white truck. He said the suspect had a black long gun rifle (ar-15 style) in his hand.
According to the report, the witness said that he then saw the male rack a bullet into the chamber of the rifle as the suspect began walking up the steps to the main entrance of the bank. “…While the suspect was walking up the steps and racking the rifle, the suspect stated ‘I’m fixin’ to go up in here to kill all the mother f—ers in here… they robbing and stealing money from me.”
The witness then called 911. He told police that the suspect “…almost made it into the bank, but police responded so quick that he started making his way back towards his white truck.”
Carrollton Police arrived to find the suspect – Joel McCarty – standing at the rear door of his vehicle with the rifle in his hands.
One police officer pointed his rifle towards the suspect’s back and said “…police department, show me your hands,” according to the report. The suspect was initially hesitant, police say. But, did drop the gun and turn around.
McCarty told police: “… for a month and a half, Wells Fargo was directly responsible for stealing from his bank account,” according to the report. He alleged that he got on the support line, and the bank refused to transfer his money to him. He also said he was recently admitted to the hospital for a mental breakdown. The suspect claimed that “a film crew had been following him, filming him.”
McCarty allegedly told police, “I realized that killing innocent people isn’t the solution to it, but when the entire system fails you, what would you do?”.
Police say when they notified employees inside the bank of the incident outside, they appeared shocked and had no knowledge of the situation.
McCarty is charged with terroristic threats and acts, possession of firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
