FAYETTEVILLE — A bank robber struck at First Federal Bank at the corner of College Avenue and Millsap Road just before noon Thursday.
A white man in his 40s or 50s, with a “buzz” haircut, walked into the lobby of the bank, presented a note and demanded money, said Sgt. Shannon Gabbard of the Fayetteville Police Department. The man was wearing dark khaki-colored shorts, a blue T-shirt, tennis shoes and a green or camouflage baseball cap, according to police.
The man showed the note to the teller, but took it with him when he left, said police Cpl. Rick Crisman. The note demanded large bills, which video footage shows the robber stuffing into a small plastic sack.
The man fled the bank on foot, heading east through a strip mall and several businesses. Nobody reported seeing a vehicle, according to police.
Officers interviewed employees at area businesses and used search dogs in an attempt to develop more information, Gabbard said. Tracking dogs combed the neighborhood east of the bank for several hours Thursday afternoon.
Police didn’t disclose how much money was taken.
The bank was closed following the robbery. Employees congregated in a loan office behind the bank.
The last bank robbery in Northwest Arkansas happened in December at an Arvest branch at the corner of Garland Avenue and Wedington Drive in Fayetteville. Matthew Andersen, 29, of Elkins passed a note through the drive-through window demanding money.
Employees tripped the alarm, and Andersen rammed a car trying to escape the scene and nearly hit two police officers. Detective David Williams shot and killed Andersen during the escape attempt. Reviews of the incident concluded Williams acted properly in the shooting.
“We’re confident that somebody is going to recognize this guy,” he said.
Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to call Fayetteville police at 587-3555 or the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 443- 3181.