QUILCENE — Law enforcement officers continued seeking information Saturday about the robbery by a lone gunman last week of the Quilcene branch of U.S. Bank.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Stamper said Saturday that investigators are scrutinizing still images taken from the bank’s surveillance camera but have not yet received video of the robbery from U.S. Bank’s corporate offices in Minnesota.
“We hoped to get that [Friday],” Stamper said.
“I’m sure we won’t see it until at least Monday now.”
An FBI agent also has been assigned to the case, Stamper said.
No shots were fired, and no one was hurt during the 1:30 p.m. Thursday robbery of the bank at 14890 Center Road, investigators said.
A man thought to be about 30 years old pointed a dark-colored automatic pistol at a teller after pushing a customer out of the way, investigators said. He then demanded cash, they added.
The teller complied with the gunman’s demands, and he fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money, investigators said.
Bank staff called 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers as soon as the robber left the building, Stamper said.
The area was searched, and a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office police dog, Rico, tracked the robber but eventually lost the scent.
That indicated the robber may have left in a vehicle, investigators said.
Nearby Quilcene School was locked down until law enforcement were confident the robber was no longer in the area.
On Friday, Detective Brett Anglin, who is heading the investigation, said the Sheriff’s Office was “pursuing all leads.
“We are now taking statements from all the witnesses and hoping that anyone with any information will come forward,” Anglin said.
“We are also looking at other cases throughout the Northwest to determine if we can find any similarities.”
The robber, who appeared to be working alone, was described as standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds.
He wore a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and the sleeves cut off, a red bandana over his face and sunglasses.
He may have a moustache and possibly spoke with a Spanish accent, investigators said.
Along with Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies and detectives, a State Patrol trooper, a state Department of Fish and Wildlife agent, state Department of Corrections officers and an FBI special agent assisted in the search.
This specific Quilcene branch has never been robbed since it opened in the 1970s, Stamper said.
“They got burglarized once at night when they were closed, but this is the first robbery at that bank,” Stamper said.
The robber should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him should call 9-1-1.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Anglin at 360-344-9762 or banglin@co.jefferson.wa.us.
“We’re really hoping we get some additional information from the public to help us key in on the suspect,” Stamper said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Jeremy Schwartz contributed to this report.
