A transient accused of robbing a bank with a BB pistol in the Capshaw community Wednesday morning may soon have a room of his own.

Stephen Lamar Vaughn, 40, of 315 E. Main St., Lynch, Ky., was arrested and charged after leading a 20-car string of law-enforcement officers on a chase through Athens and along Interstate 65 before being rammed and then striking a guardrail, an official said.

“It looked like the Talladega 500, ” with a gray Pontiac as the pace car and patrol cars following, said Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely.

The suspect reached speeds of 120 miles per hour on 31 and 65 at times.

Vaughn, who had a Tennessee driver’s license but had been living out of his car the last few weeks, has quite a lengthy criminal history, the sheriff said.

Authorities say Vaughn entered Reliance Bank in eastern Limestone County before 10:20 a.m., produced a gun and a note demanding money, then fled with $4,500, the sheriff said.

A good description of the car and quick action by law-enforcement led to Vaughn’s arrest.

“We had the call within a couple of minutes and put out a BOLO (be on the lookout) to Athens P.D.,” Blakely said.

Athens officer Jimmy Flynt first spotted Vaughn’s car on Nick Davis Road coming east. Though Flynt tried to stop the suspect, Vaughn fled.

He turned north on U.S. 31 to Pryor Street then took Jefferson Street to U.S. 72 East, where he sideswiped a car and turned onto the interstate heading north, Blakely said. At one point, the suspect struck Chief Deputy Randy King’s patrol car, causing minor damage, but King continued his chase.

“We put out spike strips and it deflated one tire but he traveled a long ways before the tire started separating, ” the sheriff said. “We had an officer at the Elkmont exit stop traffic so we had a long line of cars and trucks stopped, and the suspect went around them on the shoulder of the road. When he got to the Ardmore exit, I gave the word for Tom Gilbert to do a pit maneuver on him.”

For those unschooled in law-enforcement lingo, the pit maneuver means Gilbert drove his patrol car into the rear corner of the suspect’s vehicle forcing him to spin around.

“That stopped him and he wrecked against a guard rail,” Blakely said. “He had $4,500 scattered on the floorboard, the note he gave the bank telling them to give him all their money, and a BB pistol.”

The note read: "Put the money in the bag and no one will get shot. I got two men outside with AK-47 rifles."

Vaughn is charged with first-degree robbery and is facing charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief for ramming King's car as well as several traffic violations.

The sheriff was pleased with deputies and others who assisted.

“I’m really proud of my deputies, the Athens Police Department and the Alabama state trooper who assisted,” he said. “Everyone did an outstanding job and no one got hurt.”

Officers from Ardmore and Elkmont also assisted.

Catching a bank robber isn't easy. Typically, such suspects are disguised and their vehicle description is sketchy.

“We were just lucky we got the call so quick,” Blakely said. “From dispatch on down, we did a good job of getting the information out. The best thing is that we got a good description of the vehicle. The people at Reliance Bank did a good job.”

Athens Police Capt. Marty Bruce was pleased as well.

“Officer Flynt did a very good job when he spotted the suspect’s car,” Bruce said. “He was very observant. He also did a very good job in the pursuit. We were very lucky no one was injured. The suspect showed no regard for the safety of the officers or the public. The 911 office did a great job also. At the time of the call, they relayed information to our dispatchers so Officer Flynt received the information in a very timely manner.”

Meanwhile, the suspect was being held in the Limestone County Jail in lieu of posting a $20,000 bond.