Bank robber on the loose
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com
Gulf Breeze Police say they are narrowing in on a handful of suspects but no arrests have been made in relation to a bank robbery July 27. Lt. Rick Hawthorne with the police department said their investigators, with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, are getting close to a possible arrest thanks to fingerprints at the scene of the crime. However, Hawthorne said the suspect's quick getaway

Suspect

the day of the robbery has them stumped.

"He disappeared," Hawthorne said. "He just vanished. We're not sure if he went into a condo, a house or hid somewhere in the woods. We just don't know."

According to a police report, the suspect was last seen leaving the People's First Community Bank, located on Shoreline drive, riding a bicycle and carrying an undisclosed amount of cash. The same report described the suspect as a middle aged white male close to 6 feet tall weighing approximately 230 pounds. Eyewitnesses reported the suspect entered the bank, asked for a roll of quarters in exchange for a $10 bill. According to the report, when the teller looked away to fulfill his request, the suspected revealed a small handgun and demanded money.

Any one with information about the robbery is asked to call Lt. Rick Hawthorne at 850-934-5121 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at 850-437- 7867.