Bank robbery suspect remains at large

The suspect who allegedly robbed Peoples State Bank and eluded police during a three hour search was still at large Wednesday.

Officers from the Bloomington Police Department were dispatched to the bank, located at 525 S. Clarizz Blvd., when an armed robbery was reported at about 1:25 p.m. Tuesday, BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said.

At the time, no customers were in the bank, but the robber reportedly displayed a firearm and told bank employees to get on the floor. No shots were fired and no one was injured in the robbery.

The undisclosed amount of money robbed from the bank has not yet been recovered. However, a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun potentially linked to the crime was found on the ground.

Bank employees described the suspect as a male wearing dark clothing. After leaving the bank, the suspect fled eastward. Police set up a perimeter in nearby residential areas, including Gentry Honours and Hoosier Acres.

A suspect was later detained by a police officer near East Cameron Avenue and South Meadowbrook Drive. The man was wearing black pants, black shoes and a black hoodie. The officer demanded that the suspect place his hands on the hood of the squad car. He complied. However, he began to reach with his left hand into his waistband, said BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada.

The officer then demanded the suspect return his hand to the car’s hood. The officer then grabbed his right arm, but he jerked his arm away from her and began to flee.
Canada said police did not observe the suspect dropping a bag containing the money.
 
Canada said police are unaware of the way the suspect concealed the money.

The suspect fled the area, jumped over a 6-foot-tall security fence and ran westbound, Canada said. The officer was able to reach the fence gate when the suspect hopped another chain link fence. At that point, the officer lost sight of the suspect.

The handgun was located near the security fence the suspect hopped over when he fled from police, Canada said.

Police set up a perimeter in the area and began a search with the force’s K9 unit. Canada estimated the K9 search lasted about 45 minutes. Officers continued to search the surrounding area for another two hours, Canada said.

— Mark Keierleber