Masked man robs Clinton bank, may have called in 911 ruse
Jim Larsen/The Record
Police and bank officials spent Wednesday evening processing evidence at the scene of a Clinton bank robbery.
By JESSIE STENSLAND
South Whidbey Record Staff Reporter
November 29, 2012 · 9:44 AM
Deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank in Clinton that occurred just before closing today.
A masked man entered the bank and demanded money, warning the employees that he wanted “no dye packs” and “no problems,” according to Detective Ed Wallace with the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
The robber did not display a weapon and left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money. Three employees were at the bank at the time, Deputy Rick Felici said.
Detectives believe that the robbery may be tied to an earlier bogus 911 call from the payphone booth at Classic Road in Greenbank. A man called at about 5 p.m. and claimed he had killed someone at an address on Smugglers Cove Road.
Deputies responded to the home and the payphone, but found nothing amiss.
However, Wallace said they were suspicious and left some law enforcement officers on the South end in case the call was a ruse.
Sure enough, an employee at the bank called and reported the robbery at 5:55 p.m.
The suspect was wearing a mask, but is described as a white male, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.
The Wells Fargo branch is located on Highway 525 at the intersection of Deer Lake Road.
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