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Wash. Federal robber makes quick getaway
 


By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
May 9, 2007

Washington Federal Savings Bank was robbed on Monday afternoon and the suspect fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The Hood River City Police are seeking a Caucasian male from 55-60 years of age. He was described by witnesses as 5 feet 8 inches tall with gray hair, no facial hair, and a double chin. He was last seen wearing baggy blue pants, white tennis shoes and an older blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

The man was also wearing a red and black ball cap with white lettering — possibly the Portland Trailblazer logo. He was carrying a small to medium-sized green book bag and walked with a limp.

According to reports, a bank employee asked the man what he needed while waiting on another customer. He claimed to want a roll of coins and was then motioned toward an available teller.

The suspect then passed that individual a note indicating that a robbery was taking place and demanding cash. No weapon was seen and the use of a weapon was not threatened.

Once the man received the money, he left the bank and was seen running toward Safeway. His actual route and method of getaway are unknown at this time.

Police arrived within three minutes of the teller activating a panic alarm, but were unable to locate the suspect. Deputies from the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office helped comb the area but found no one matching the suspect’s description.

The FBI has been notified of the crime and has reportedly indicated the local robbery is similar to others in the region. Although the suspect kept possession of the note, latent fingerprints were gathered at the scene. That evidence is being processed and compared with prints in the law enforcement data bank for a possible match.

Anyone with information on the suspect, or having witnessed any unusual activity in that location at that time, is asked to call Detective Anthony Frasier at 387-5251.