Thief targets downtown bank

Published 8:07 am Wednesday, February 25, 2009

FRANKLIN—The Franklin branch of SunTrust Bank was robbed just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Several city police officers combed the downtown area for a suspect shortly after the incident, and investigators cordoned off the bank wth crime-scene tape.

Franklin Police Detective Sgt. Kenny Barham and Detective Cpl. Frank Justus stand in front of the Franklin branch of SunTrust Bank, located at 117 W. Second Ave., shortly after the bank was robbed Tuesday afternoon.

“We were there one minute after it happened,” Lt. Tim Whitt said near Franklin Street and Third Avenue, as he and another officer looked for the suspect.

Whitt said the bank was robbed of an undetermined amount of cash.

According to police, the suspect entered the bank wearing a ski mask and handed a note to a teller. The suspect implied that he had a weapon. He fled the bank after receiving the money.

Police are looking for a black male with a light complexion who is 6 feet, 1 inch to 6 feet, 3 inches in height, weighs 200 pounds to 240 pounds and is in his mid- to late 20s. The suspect was wearing a burgundy or brown stocking cap, a black or dark blue down coat, black or dark-blue jeans and white deck-type shoes.

The bank is located at Franklin Street and Second Avenue, adjacent to City Hall.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Franklin police at 562-8575 or Franklin Crime Solvers at 562-8599.