POULSBO — An armed suspect is still at large after he allegedly robbed Key Bank, 19735 10th Ave. NE. in Poulsbo, Thursday about 2 p.m.
The suspect was described as a white male in his mid 20s, light brown hair, 5 feet 8 inches tall, slim build> He reportedly was wearing a light gray over dark gray striped DC-brand sweatshirt, blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a dirty white Hurley-brand ball cap.
He was seen in surveillance photos putting what police think is electrical tape over his nose and upper lip before he entered the bank. He had a tan canvas bag and an unknown caliber semi-automatic handgun, black in color.
Poulsbo Police Deputy Chief Wendy Davis said the suspect set the gun on the counter and asked for the money, but “didn’t point it at [the tellers] per se.”
Tellers placed an undisclosed amount of money into a bag and the suspect then fled on foot in an unknown direction. The suspect was once thought to be near the forest on Caldart Avenue. Davis said police think he may have had a car or an accomplice with a car in the area.
“Typically you don’t see people fleeing on foot and not having a way to get out the area quickly,” Davis said.
Police from Poulsbo and other areas, including Bainbridge Island, searched the area.
Officers were dispatched at 2:02 p.m. Officers arrived on the scene at 2:07 p.m., Davis said. An off-duty K-9 unit was called out at 2:16 p.m. At 2:17 p.m., a deputy asked dispatchers to call the high school. At about 2:57 p.m., school district spokeswoman Robyn Chastain called 911 to see if the schools should be locked down, but high school students had already been released from school, according to a timeline provided by Davis. Poulsbo Elementary was in session until 3:45 p.m.
Anyone with suspect information should call 911 or the Poulsbo Police Department, (360) 779-3113.
It’s the second robbery-related bank crime in Poulsbo this year. On Feb. 17, an unarmed man tried to rob Timberland Bank on Viking Way. He walked out of the bank after a teller refused to give him money. The man, Adam T. Hewins, 51, of Kingston told police he tried to rob the bank because he was on hard times, has been out of work, his rent was past due and he needed the money. He was sentenced to 67 days in jail.
