*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Contact:  Officer Joe Okies  #71

                 BPD Public Information Officer

                 (510) 981- 5752

Man Holds Up Bank With a Gun
Identification Needed

Berkeley, California (Tuesday, December 7, 2004) – On Thursday December 2^nd, 2004 at approximately 2:15 in the afternoon the suspect in the above photographs robbed the Wells Fargo Bank located at 2144 Shattuck Ave.  The suspect approached the teller, displayed a gun in his waistband and threatened to shoot the teller if he did not give him money.  The teller complied with the suspect’s demands and the suspect fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect is described as a:

White male adult in his 40’s to 50’s, approximately 6 feet tall and 205 lbs.  The suspect had   graying black hair, scabs over his right eye, and a mustache.  He was wearing a blue jacket  with gray stripes on it, and had a black handgun in his waistband.

The above photographs were taken by the bank surveillance system.  Sgt. Spiller from the Berkeley Police Department’s Robbery Detail said, “The fact that this guy robbed a downtown bank with a gun during the early afternoon hours is very concerning.  We are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying this armed and dangerous bank robber.”

Anyone who may have information about this incident or the pictures above is asked to call the Robbery Detail at 510-981-5742 or email tips to police@ci.berkeley.ca.us.  You may remain anonymous.