This security camera still of a bank robber suspect was released by Coos Bay Police this morning. Police said the suspect left the Wells Fargo bank on North Broadway Thursday afternoon with an undisclosed amount of cash. Contributed Photo
A branch of Wells Fargo Bank located on North Broadway in Coos Bay was robbed Thursday for the second time this year.
Coos Bay Officer Scott Snyder said the suspect walked into the bank at 3:46 p.m. and demanded money, indicating to employees that he had a weapon, but never displayed one. Snyder said the suspect left through the south exit with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect is described as a white male adult, 35 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall with a medium build. Police said he was wearing a green jacket, a dark baseball cap with "Hawaii" written across it and dark-colored baggy pants.
The bank was put on lockdown shortly after the incident and witnesses were interviewed while eight officers and deputies from Coos Bay Police, Oregon State Police, the Coos County Sheriff's Office and Coquille Tribal Police canvassed the blocks around the bank and the nearby Tioga building.
"We try to interview all the witnesses and bank employees on the spot while things are still fresh in their mind," Snyder said.
In a press release Thursday, police said the suspect left the bank on foot in an unknown direction.
According to Steve Ryker, Wells Fargo vice president of security and regional security manager, the robbery happened in a busy period in the day, when people are leaving work and running errands. Many customers gathered outside the bank, wondering why the doors were locked.
"Everyone is trained to do certain things to maintain the safety of everyone involved, and that's what happened today," Ryker said, adding a motive for the crime is difficult to determine at this stage in the investigation. "We find more and more a large majority of robberies are driven by the need for drugs for the robber so they tend to be somewhat unpredictable."
Ryker declined to reveal how much money was taken but said whatever the amount, it doesn't add up in the end.
"I can tell you it's not a lot of money considering the amount of jail time the robber will get when he's caught," he said. "The penalties are stiff and definitely not worth the amount of money they're going to get."
On May 6, a robber escaped with $891 from the bank. Six days later, an officer shot and killed a suspect, 34-year-old Steven Lile Garner, as police tried to arrest him on the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus.
Despite Thursday's robbery being the second this year, Ryker said the location alongside the highway is no more high-risk than Wells Fargo's 138 other Oregon locations.
Police are requesting anyone with information call the department at 269-8911 or Coos Stop Crime at 267-6666.
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Well this goes to show that this is the best coo's county can do.I can't see this lady getting 90 DAYS for helping a person murder another person.this makes me sick.
Hello My name is Judy Reyes I have looked on every web site for Coos county animal shelter & can not find it . I an looking for a small young female dog . a poodle or poodle mix or a cock a poo . I live in Albany Or, coos bay was our home for many years . We adopted a dog from coos counnty and had him for 15 yrs . we have a very nice home & all fenced . & have love to spare for animals . we have no other dogs & no children . I am retired & homr most of the time . Thanks for your help. E. Mail reyesletro 2@ aol.com Sincerely
Judy Reyes
Community editor Hallie Winchell wrote on Jul 27, 2007 10:10 AM:
The Teen Idol contest was held at the Coos County Fair this week, as mentioned in the story above. The rest of the competition is scheduled to be held at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Coos Bay starting again on Thursday, Aug. 2. - Community Editor Hallie Winchell
We, my husband and sister-in-law and I went to the Egyptian Theater tonight to watch the "Teen Idol." NO ONE was there and there were no messages regarding this program??? What's the deal here? We thought as stated in your web site above that it would be there on Thursday evenings at least through mid-August.. I look forward to hearin from you
It is an honor to particapate in Teen Idol, I'm having the time of my life. I get really excited when I see the turn out of people, friends and family at the Egyptian theatre. Thanks for your support! See you at the fair.
Peace Out :)
Teen Idol is one of the best experiences Ive ever had and I hope that everyone gets out here and supports us at the Egyptian this Thursday!!!
*Rock On*
~Star Moralez~
It doesn't matter what the administration says about what we've been hurt by or not hurt by!! There is such a thing as a RIPPLE effect.Because we lost a substantial source of revenue,Not only with the 2006 closure but the early closure in June of 2005 we all have incurred numerous bills that literally have many SERIOUS fisherman on the ropes!!Meaning those of us that earn every dime we make from Commercial fishing!Yes we were eligible for loans from the S.B.A. but thats just another Bill every month that we don't need!!It's kinda funny that they completely shut off the fishery for part of one year and totally for the next,but now we have all this time and unrestricted area to fish for Salmon but,to Date, we have a Whopping 62 fish in for the Year!!!There have been NO SALMON thus far!!The bills are still coming in and it is unconscionable to think for even one moment that we don't need every one of those disaster relief dollars!!DONALD JACOBS F/V ANA MARIA !
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
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