Deputies continue to search for suspect of Fort Myers Beach bank robber
On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at 9:12 a.m. the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported bank robbery at the Wachovia Bank at 7128 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach.
Deputies investigated a suspicious package at the bank on Estero Boulevard, removing a small, handled package at the scene.
Units responded to the scene and were told the suspect entered the bank with a package and implied it was a bomb. The suspect left the package in the bank and left the scene with an undisclosed amount of money, leaving the scene on foot and was last seen headed north.
A Bomb Squad robot has crawled along the exterior of the building, along with Sheriff’s Office canines and fully-suited bomb techs.
All onlookers were moved farther and farther across Estero Boulevard and police tape was continually moved farther and farther away from the scene.
Meanwhile, nearby residents were instructed via intercom to stay “in their units” by sheriff’s deputies. Sources and witnesses said nearby residents within a mile radius of the site received a “CODE RED” call around 10:15 a.m. from the Lee Co. Sheriff’s Department, providing a suspect description, asking citizens to call law enforcement if they saw any individuals matching that description.
Authorities continued to arrive on the scene where, as of 10:55 a.m., at least 40 official units were on-scene.
The sheriff’s helicopter circled for more than an hour searching for the fleeing suspect.
The suspect is described as a white male in his 60s, clean-shaven with no noticeable accent, approximately 6-feet tall, blue eyes, tan jacket, dark pants, tan shirt, tan hat with a blue rim.
Due to the nature of the incident, the Southwest Florida Regional Bomb Squad responded to the scene to secure the device. The device was X-rayed and the box was opened by a robot. The bomb squad was able to determine it was not an explosive device and the evidence was turned over to the Crime Scene Unit.
The FBI and Lee County Sheriff’s Office Robbery Detectives are currently working together to identify the suspect.
Surveillance photos are attached to this story! Anyone who can identify the suspect or knows of his location is asked to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 477-1000, or to remain anonymous a nd be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 dollars, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). Tips may also be made online atwww.SWFLCrimeStoppers.org.