Montgomery County authorities arrested a Bellflower man in connection with a armed robbery that occurred at the American Bank branch in Middletown last week. The suspect, taken into custody following a brief car chase on New Year's Eve morning, was identified as Ralph Whitehead, 33. According to Montgomery County Sheriff Robert Davis, Whitehead entered the bank around 10:30 a.m. and displayed a handgun to the employees there. Authorities declined to disclose the amount of money taken. Whitehead has been charged with felony first-degree robbery and felony armed criminal action. His cash-only bond was set at $100,000. His first court date is scheduled for Jan. 14. Davis said a heads-up resident noticed the suspect fleeing and forwarded his license plate number to authorities. Following a brief chase, the suspect was taken into custody without incident on Highway T. While Whitehead tried to ditch some of the money, Davis said all of the cash was recovered. Melissa Springmeyer, American Bank chief operations officer/executive vice president, described the amount as "minimal." American Bank has four other branches in Wright City, Warrenton, Montgomery City and Wellsville. Springmeyer was thankful the robbery occurred without further incident or injuries. She said the bank, which was closing Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. due to the holiday, reopened Saturday. "All the procedures were appropriately followed," Springmeyer said. "The result was what we hoped for. She added, "The employees stayed calm. No one got hurt. That was the goal. We wanted to get the perpetrator out." This was the second bank in Montgomery County in as many weeks to be robbed, authorities said. On Dec. 23, the Montgomery City branch of Martinsburg Bank and Trust was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash at approximately 10 a.m. According to Montgomery City Police Chief Phil Ahern, a black man entered the bank and demanded money. He made threats suggesting he had a weapon, but none was displayed. The suspect was identified as being 5 to 5 1/2 feet tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds, Ahern said. The man was seen leaving the scene in a silver car that may have been a Dodge Stratus or Intrepid. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the Montgomery County Police Department at 573-564-2511.