Gunman Holds Up North Side Bank, Flees On Bicycle

A man robbed a Spokane bank at gunpoint Wednesday before fleeing on a bicycle, police said.

Authorities later surrounded a North Side house they suspected the robber was hiding in, but found no sign of the bandit when they searched the home nearly 3-1/2 hours after the heist.

The robbery took place about 10:30 a.m. at the Seafirst Bank branch at 3309 E. Queen.

Tellers told police a white man about 30 years old walked into the bank waving a pistol. He threatened an employee, then grabbed some cash and left.

A letter carrier delivering mail nearby told police he saw a man matching the robber’s description walk into a house near Wellesley and Haven about 11 a.m.

Authorities surrounded the house next to St. Peter Lutheran Church and closed traffic on nearby streets.

About 2 p.m., heavily armed SWAT team members and a police dog went in the back door.

Police found a blue 10-speed bike in an alley about four blocks from the house and seized it as evidence.

Last month, two men robbed the Sterling Savings branch at 103 E. Queen and fled on bicycles.

Witnesses told authorities Wednesday’s bandit is 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 165 pounds with blond hair.

The man may have been injured by an exploding dye pack bank employees placed in the money bag, police said. Tellers said the robber stuffed the bag down the front of his pants before leaving the bank.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crime Check, 456-2233.

, DataTimes