Officers from the Ashville police department and St. Clair County sheriff’s department, along with federal investigators, were at the scene Tuesday following an armed robbery at Metro Bank on U.S. 231.
According to police chief Dennis Matthews and Sgt. Wendy Long, authorities received a call at approximately 10:02 a.m. in response to three black males, who entered the bank with guns and demanded money. Metro Bank president Don Perry said no one was hurt in the incident.
“Other than just being petrified,” he said. “(The robbers) put guns to people and got everybody on the floor. … That’s very frightening.”
The suspects fled in a vehicle, though specific information about the vehicle was unavailable at press time. Matthews said the Federal Bureau of Investigations is handling the investigation. Paul Daymond, FBI public affairs specialist, said no specific information was available Tuesday afternoon.
Perry said he did not know how much was stolen, but that the perpetrators only stole from the teller windows, and were inside the bank less than five minutes.
Tuesday’s robbery is the second such case at the branch this year — a 26-year-old Albertville man was arrested in September for an August robbery at the same location.
“I hope that’s just a coincidence,” Perry said. “The FBI didn’t say anything about it. I don’t think there’s any relationship between the two.”
Perry said his main concern is for the safety of his employees.
“We’re thankful no one was hurt,” he said. “This one was a little bit scarier than the first.”
Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes.com.
