Local law enforcement agents are still investigating the robbery of Southern Bank on Main Street in Centre Thursday morning, Dec. 20. Agents are searching for two black male suspects who were wearing ski masks at the time of the robbery. One of the suspects was wearing camouflage clothing and the other was wearing black.

Centre Police Chief Val Courtney issued a statement Thursday afternoon. Central dispatch issued a call to all units stating that someone had robbed the Southern Bank at 390 West Main St. At the same time, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy Seth Rochester called dispatch requesting a city officer to respond to West Main St., stating that he found a bag in the roadway on West Main St. at Buttram, Hawkins and Hopper Law office which was emitting red smoke. All units were enroute to the bank and were in the area at the time so response time was quick. No one in the bank was injured. Both suspects were armed with firearms, said Courtney.

According to an eyewitness, the suspects opened the car door and threw the bank (large) bag out of the getaway car and turn left on Pratt Street. At approximately 10:40 a.m., Centre Officer Jay Webb located the abandoned getaway vehicle on David St., a short distance from Southern Bank. The vehicle, a 1989 Silver Buick, was stolen from Anniston Nov. 27 of this year.

Courtney said law enforcement agents secured all roads within 30 minutes of the robbery. Agencies taking part in the operation included the Centre Police Department, Cedar Bluff Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff's Department, Cherokee County District Attorney's Office, Dekalb County Sheriff's Department, Etowah County Sheriff's Department, St. Clair County Department of Corrections, Alabama Marine Police, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.



A tracking dog team from St. Clair County Corrections facility responded and attempted to locate a trail from the vehicle. No trail was located and it is believed that the suspects had a pickup car and had already left the area. The F.B.I. stated that the suspects fit the description of suspects in robberies in adjacent counties