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Union Bank in Bryant is robbed |
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Wednesday, 06 August 2008 |
Suspect wore no disguise, giving camera clear image
A man who authorities said apparently was not interested in concealing his identity entered a Union Bank branch in Bryant on Tuesday morning and walked away with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.
It was the city’s second bank robbery of the year.
Police Chief Tony Coffman said authorities have a clear image of the suspect from surveillance cameras.
The suspect is described as 35-40 years of age, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds with dark hair and mustache. Police said the suspect wore a long-sleeved flannel shirt over an undershirt.
At 9:20 a.m. Tuesday, employees of the branch bank at the intersection of Arkansas 5 and 183 said the suspect entered the north side door, walked to the teller and presented a note demanding money.
The man placed the money inside his shirt and left the bank through the same door in which he entered. Police said employees believe the man headed west on foot through the parking lot of B&K Dance Studio.
“He gave the teller the note,” Coffman said, “and then calmly folded it and placed it back into his pocket.”
Coffman said there were a few customers inside the bank at the time. However, the man was able to not draw attention to himself and left with inconclusive witness accounts. Coffman also said the man did not use a weapon in the robbery.
Officers said they found an exploded red dye pack inside a bundle of money a short distance from the bank near a wooden privacy fence, but are not sure if any of the ink got on the suspect.
“We are not ruling anything out,” Coffman said. “We can’t say for certain that he has any ink on him; we don’t know for sure.”
Coffman said a police dog followed a scent until authorities reached an alley near the dance studio. The dog then lost the scent, which Coffman said indicated that the suspect possibly left in a waiting vehicle.
“We are asking for the public’s help,” Coffman said. “There is a reward, but who is offering and how much is unknown at this time.”
The Metropolitan National Bank branch at 3109 N. Reynolds Road in Bryant was robbed on May 5. Coffman, said however, that residents should not be worried that bank robberies in the city are on the rise.
“I have been with the police department since 2000 and I only know of four bank robberies since that time,” Detective Todd Crowson said.
“We had one robbery last year, but although we had two this year, I don’t think we are seeing an increase.”
A Little Rock man was arrested shortly after robbing the Metropolitan National Bank branch in Bryant and is in the Pulaski County jail. Authorities said Troy Moore, 43, is a suspect in a string of bank robberies in Pulaski County and the bank in Bryant.
On May 5, Moore allegedly entered the Metropolitan branch and handed a teller a note demanding money. The note reportedly demanded $10, $20 and $50 bills, and Moore allegedly told the teller not to place any tracking devices in the bag.
Moore was taken into custody at his residence at 8407 Sequin Ave. after Little Rock police received a tip from a Pulaski County resident who recognized Moore from a video surveillance photograph.
Coffman said authorities are hopeful that someone can identify the suspect in Tuesday’s robbery.
To report any information, call the Bryant Police Department at 847-0211.
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