MARION COUNTY — The 38-year-old Alabama man arrested Friday in connection with the armed robbery of Farmer’s State Bank in Central City has been taken into federal custody.

According to Marion County State’s Attorney, federal officials contacted him as early as Friday asking him to not set bail for George Treece, as they intended to file federal charges against him for the alleged robbery.

Treece allegedly displayed a firearm Friday before fleeing the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

He ultimately led law enforcement from the surrounding area on a high-speed chase south through Centralia and into a field on Dix/Irvington Road, where he then fled on foot.

Treece’s passenger, 47-year-old Teresa Whitaker, also from Alabama, was arrested at the scene when she was allegedly found with baggies of methamphetamine in her possession.

She’s been charged in Marion County Court with Class 2 felony possession of less than 15 grams of meth. She remains in the Marion County Jail.