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Kelso police officer Brian Clark, with rifle, keeps watch as officer Mike Cowan talks on his cell phone while Longview K9 officer Alan Buchholz waits for Bruno to pick up the scent of a bank robber along Northwest Fourth Avenue near Main Street in West Kelso on Tuesday afternoon. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News

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Armed man robs West Kelso bank

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 5:47 PM PDT

By Leslie Slape

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A man wearing a dark ski mask and toting a semiautomatic pistol lined up and pepper-sprayed employees and a female customer at the West Kelso branch of Fibre Federal Credit Union on Tuesday afternoon.

As he left, the brazen robber, now unmasked, said “Good day, gentlemen,” to two men outside the credit union, Kelso Capt. Vern Thompson said Tuesday.

Longview K9 Bruno tracked the scent from Northwest Fifth Avenue to West Main Street, but did not locate the robber.

Thompson said the man entered the credit union at 4:17 p.m. and got everyone’s attention by brandishing a semiautomatic handgun. He ordered a female employee to fill a bag with cash while he lined everyone else up against a wall, Thompson said.

“He sprayed everybody in line with pepper spray,” Thompson said. “Then, when she returned with the bag, he sprayed her and left the bank.”

Paramedics from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response treated the victims, Thompson said. As the female customer left for home, she told Thompson she had eye surgery earlier in the day but assured him she would be OK.

Thompson said crisis counselors also would be talking with the traumatized employees.

Witnesses described the robber as a white man in his late 20s with brown eyes, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10 and about 215 pounds. He wore a shirt with gray vertical stripes, blue jeans and white shoes.

The robber does not match the description of the notorious “pepper spray” bandit linked to a series of bank robberies in the region more than a year ago, and police said his method of operation also differed.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kelso Police at 423-1270 or Crime Stoppers of Cowlitz County at 577-1206.

Merrib wrote on May 14, 2008 12:55 AM:

" My prayers and hugs go out to the victims. This is the bank I opened my account at and all the employees are always wonderful to work with. I wish them peace as I am sure they will be tortured with this experience for some time to come. "

Big Mike wrote on May 14, 2008 8:01 AM:

" He probably needed to fill up his SUV with premium..... "

been there wrote on May 14, 2008 8:58 AM:

" Hang in there employees... But remember it's only a job other opportunities are out there if you can't see yourself going back! Good luck my prayers are with you...

Law inforcement - FIND HIM! "

Kim wrote on May 14, 2008 9:01 AM:

" I realized yesterday how lucky I was. Yesterday my daughter and I were very close to being in that bank at the time of the robbery. I arrived at the bank maybe 10 mins prior to the robbery. Someone was looking over me and my daughter thank god. He may have even been in the parking lot waiting who knows. Just gives me chills. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this traumatic event. The tellers there are always so nice and you never expect something like this to happen at your place of employment. "

Sabrina T. wrote on May 14, 2008 9:24 AM:

" This makes me so angry that a scum bag like that can this do the gals at fibre! They are the nicest girls, my heart goes out to you all, keep your head up and keep strong!!! Our prayers go out to you all. "

MEMBER wrote on May 14, 2008 9:30 AM:

" I was just in that branch earlier that day- I feel SOOO sorry for you people that got sprayed & once you were asked to Line up- especially with him being armed. I bet a million thoughts were going through your mind. With our small tight community this really hits home.
Hang in there and I hope we catch this guy!!! "

A Long time Member and Friend to those gals wrote on May 14, 2008 9:37 AM:

" I think that this scum bag needs to be caught as soon as possiable. I have family and friends that work their and I cant believe something like this would happen in Kelso! What would drive some stupid person to commit some stupid crime and scare the living heck out off all those ladies. Some big man you are. JERK! "

Admiral wrote on May 14, 2008 9:37 AM:

" He sounds like a modern day Robin Hood, the banks and credit unions stick it to people, he didn't kill anyone. "

Man Hunter wrote on May 14, 2008 9:52 AM:

" I would love to date someone that had that kind of daring. "

Re Admiral wrote on May 14, 2008 9:56 AM:

" Do you know how painful pepper spray is? Don't you know that the severe pain can last as long as a couple hours and the irritating lasting pain can last for up to a day? Do you also not realize just how little these tellers are paid? But I guess these young ladies are "sticking it to the people, Huh. "

Re Kim wrote on May 14, 2008 9:57 AM:

" Someone was looking over you and your daughter but not the people involved? Nice. With that kind of thought process, I doubt your prayers are wanted. "

Teller wrote on May 14, 2008 10:00 AM:

" I don't think this person was a robin hood at all. Criminal is more like it! My thought and prayer are with the VICTIMS of this CRIME! "

Admiral wrote on May 14, 2008 10:06 AM:

" I actually have been hit with pepper spray and shot (ex Navy Vietnam) tellers, like soldiers know the risk of their jobs. "

Woodlandite wrote on May 14, 2008 10:15 AM:

" WOW Admiral.... Sounds like you need an attitude adjustment! This criminal doesn't deserve positive recognition. These gals & guys did exactly what they were trained to do in the event of a robbery. I'm SUPER proud of these people and my thoughts go out to them and the member who was violated. This is so traumatic. "

to manhunter wrote on May 14, 2008 10:54 AM:

" GET A FREAKIN LIFE....you would like to date someone with that kind of daring? This guy terrorized these people & I think you have a lot of nerve making that statement. No wonder you're still hunting. "

Ashamed wrote on May 14, 2008 11:05 AM:

" An article about a bank robbery and all people on here can do is argue with each other. you would think this argument wouldn't have a 2nd side to it. Im glad i no longer live in a community where such ridiculousness occurs. You should all be ashamed. "

Shocked wrote on May 14, 2008 11:07 AM:

" Robin Hood,really? CU's and Banks aren't a ripoff, unluess your one of those people who always overdraws their account, bounces checks, then gets charged the penalty fee and blames the bank! It's not the banks fault you spend more than your brining in, and can't manage your money! Talking bad about someone who is thanking the Lord that she and her daughter barely missed being in there, listen to what you are saying! These people who were victomized in this attack will ALWAYS be traumatized by this. Give them your emotional support in this hard time not your negative comments! "

another employee wrote on May 14, 2008 11:37 AM:

" fyi - credit union's don't have 'fees' and don't 'stick it to them'... credit union's are member owned, and not for profit. Credit Union's pay for all of your services, most of your services cost you NOTHING - who do you think is paying for them, the credit union! Maybe knowing your facts before you make such stupid comments would benefit you! These girls and guys did not deserve this!

To our west kelso girls and guys... we're thinking of you! Remember you have a huge credit union family and we're all effected by this. Stay strong ~ and we get through EVERYTHING! "

ha wrote on May 14, 2008 12:17 PM:

" I have worked in a bank for 6 years and gone through 2 robberies. The one consolation is that 75% of these guys get caught, you can look that stat up. When you rob a bank which is insured by the US Gov't, you are commiting a federal crime, so the FBI will come after you. (I don't know if CUs are insured the same way). Robbers are unSmart and usually get a few hundred dollars. There is nothing dashing about them, they are desperate people who don't realize they can make more money in private business than from a bank. "

nice wrote on May 14, 2008 12:40 PM:

" we all know what the cops look like ,where's the pictures of the robber? "

Kim wrote on May 14, 2008 12:53 PM:

" We shouldnt point fingers he made the choice to rob the bank and no he will have to pay the price when he is caught. My prayer are out to all that were involved.I am also a member of the Credit Union. We all need to remember this world is full of choices right or wrong.All we can do is hope and pray that they find him before someone gets hurt.I drove by the bank yesterday right after it happened and saw the police officer holding the gun and Bruno the police dog. "

A Few Things wrote on May 14, 2008 12:58 PM:

" 1. Thoughts & prayers to the employees and customers of Fibre Federal. 2. Fibre is a CREDIT UNION not a bank! 3. Banks have shareholders who are for profit and I believe Credit Unions are customer owned. 4. Credit Unions charge less fees than banks & Fibre happens to have the lowest fees & I've ever seen and charge for fewer things than many other Credit Unions 5. Fees are probably a result of having to cover bad debt caused by people who don't care! 6. God Bless Fibre "

Leslie Slape wrote on May 14, 2008 1:22 PM:

" To nice: Police will be getting me a surveillance photo later today. Meanwhile, you may look on the "breaking news" story about the robbery in Centralia to see a photo. Kelso police said it is the same man. "

concerned wrote on May 14, 2008 4:21 PM:

" It was probably a meth head so high that he does not know or care what he did. I have been in the room when pepper spary is sprayed and these poor people (cause there were guys there too) will hurt from the pepper spray for a while. My opnion is there should be an armed guard at the front doors of ever bank just like the social security office has. maybe just maybe it would make these thugs think a little. but i doubt it. "

hmm wrote on May 14, 2008 7:56 PM:

" Some of the comments on here are so ridiculous, its not even funny. These people that got held at gunpoint and robbed and pepper sprayed are my co-workers and my friends. None of us go to work thinking that something like this is going to happen. We all know it could, but hope it doesn't. I had seen several of the people at West Kelso earlier in the day, and it was just another day at work. People please keep in mind that no one likes being pepper sprayed or having a gun pointed at them. It can't be fun and I am just very thankful that my coworkers were not hurt. "

angry wrote on May 14, 2008 10:01 PM:

" come on! these poor people! they are also my coworkers and friends, and knowing us, we've done nothing but do everything we can to please the community. Fibre CU goes way above and beyond for the community and to help people. Our staff, is an awesome group of people and no one deserves to be a victim of such a violent crime. They will catch him, and he will get what's comin to him. Hurting people should not ever be commented 'way to go' or 'who's to blame'. No one but him decided in his mind to go hurt people and act in such a way. No one but him. And nothing makes it right! Support those who give back to our community as Fibre CU does SO much, pray for our coworkers that are so tramatized. Think of what they must be going through, being held at gun point, pepper sprayed and scared to death they were going to die. Support them! Think of them! Pray for the police to catch this horrible person!!! Staff is trained in such a way not to get anyone hurt, that is the main priority! And they did everything perfect! "

RE RE Kim wrote on May 16, 2008 8:04 AM:

" What a jerk you are. My prayers are not wanted? First off all I was saying was that I was lucky nothing happened to my daughter and I and how sorry I was that something happened to those awesome employees of my bank. I have been on the other end of a very traumatic event where someone did loose a life actually two by the hands of a criminal. So for me to be thankful and think someone was watching over my daughter and I does not take away any empathy or sympathy I have for those girls who had to endure what they did. Your comment was just idiotic and reminds me how many stupid people we have living in this county. If you didn't get my point in my first comment than you should try a reading comprehension class LCC does offer them. "

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