Suspect robs bank, remains at large

The suspect in an armed bank robbery remained at large Tuesday evening after he eluded Bloomington police during a three-hour search.

Officers were dispatched to Peoples State Bank, located at 525 S. Clarizz Blvd., when an armed robbery was reported at about 1:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Bloomington Police Capt. Joe Qualters said no customers were in the bank at the time, but the robber displayed his firearm and told bank employees to get on the floor.

The robber did not fire shots, and no one was hurt.

Bank employees described the suspect as a male wearing dark clothing. Qualters said they also believed the suspect to be black, but they were not certain.

After leaving the bank, the suspect fled eastward. Police set up a perimeter in nearby residential areas, including Gentry Honours and Hoosier Acres.

The suspect was later detained by an officer in Hoosier Acres, but jumped over a fence and fled on foot while the officer checked for weapons, Qualters said. Police proceeded to set up a perimeter in the area and began a search with the force’s K9 unit.

Qualters said the search continued for nearly three hours.

The individual has not been located, but a 9mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered during a search of the neighborhood. The weapon will be processed for the investigation.

The incident is the second bank robbery in Bloomington in two days. A man reportedly robbed the Farmers & Mechanics Federal Savings and Loan on West Third Street on Monday but was quickly apprehended with a bag of money in the parking lot.

Anyone with information related to the ongoing investigation is asked to call the Bloomington Police Department at 812-339-4477.

— Kirsten Clark