By Jason Emerson

Editor

An armed robbery occurred shortly before 11 a.m., this morning, Aug. 26, at Citizens Bank, 750 Utica Street, in DeRuyter, and state, county and local police are continuing a search for the suspect.

According to New York State Police officials, the male suspect entered the bank wearing a disguise and demanded money. He is described as a Hispanic male, between 5 feet, 2 inches and 5 feet 5 inches in height, about 300 to 350 pounds. The suspect left the bank and was last seen in a black midsize pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet Canyon or Colorado, headed north on State Route 13.

Initial reports over the police scanner said the suspect was wearing a white mask, black pants and black sweatshirt, and that he displayed a flintlock pistol during the robbery. Scanner traffic stated that state police, Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Cazenovia police officers mobilized immediately upon hearing of the alleged robbery and began to scour Madison County roads in search of the suspect, whose black truck was also described as having a white tool box.

The vehicle license plate, which police report as being stolen, is GCC-3180.

All banks in the immediate area of DeRuyter were notified by law enforcement of the robbery.

The amount of money the suspect allegedly stole has not been released by police.

The Citizens Bank in DeRuyter has a sign on the door saying the branch is “temporarily closed” and patrons should visit the nearby Cortland or DeWitt branches to do their banking.

If anyone has information regarding the bank robbery, they are asked to contact state police headquarters in Oneida at 315-366-6000. All calls can remain anonymous.