Bank Robber Still on Loose; Establishment Closed for Business
By Julie Perine on July 07, 2014 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Just before noon, Bridgeport Police units were dispatched to Huntington National Bank at White Oaks for an alleged armed robbery.
Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker has confirmed that a robbery did take place.
For the next hour or so following that 11:54 a.m. call, security was tight in the White Oaks area as law enforcement searched for the suspect.
“We closed the road down immediately,” Walker said. “We had units in the area when the alarm went off. They were there within seconds, actually. We blocked the road (at Route 279/White Oaks Boulevard) and as we got enough personnel on scene, we reduced traffic to one lane so we could check every car.”
During that search, law enforcement looked in each vehicle thoroughly.
“If this guy found he was boxed in because of (law enforcement’s) quick response, he could have taken another car or forced someone to drive him away,” Walker said. “We didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
That procedure took place for about 45 minutes to an hour, Walker said.
“Once we felt sure he wasn’t in the area anymore, we quit checking cars,” he said.
Walker said his men are working with the FBI to develop leads on the case.
According to Huntington National Bank spokesperson Bill Eiler, the suspect is a white male, estimated to be 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a blue hoodie with a West Virginia logo, blue jeans, orange face mask with eye holes cut out and gray gloves. He was seen in a light blue sedan similar to the one pictured below, make unknown, Eiler said.
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Since the incident, the bank has been closed for business and Bridgeport Police units blocked the entrance way.
“We are working, of course, with local authorities and expect to be open tomorrow,” Eiler said.
Also working on the case are the U.S. Marshals office and the Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.
More information will be reported as it becomes available.
Editor's Note: Top photo is by Julie Perine and surveillance image is courtesy of Bridgeport Police Department. The next photo was taken during police search following the robbery. Bottom photo is courtesy of Bridgeport Police Department. It is not the actual vehicle in which the suspect was seen, but one which fits the description, Walker said. 
