News : Photo shows Shellsburg bank robber in fake beard

This photo from security cameras shows the Wells Fargo Bank Robbery in Shellsburg Wednesday.

This photo from security cameras shows the Wells Fargo Bank Robbery in Shellsburg Wednesday.

Sheriff Randy Forsyth stands in the doorway of the Wells Fargo Bank after Tuesday's robbery.

This sign advises customers that the bank is temporarily closed.

The Benton County Sheriff's Department is investigating a Wednesday afternoon bank robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank in Shellsburg.

Photos released on Thursday by the Iowa State Patrol show the suspect wearing a fake beard, which tellers described as purple in color.

Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth said that at around 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, a white male with medium brown hair, approximately 5'5" tall and weighing 150-160 lbs. and wearing a blue ball cap, possibly with white lettering and a dark trench coat, entered the bank, displayed a weapon and left with an undisclosed amount of money, before fleeing on foot. He was last seen heading east on Jones Street. 

Business owners, customers and residents along Pearl Street said they noticed nothing and were unaware of the robbery until authorities told them about it. 

Officers believe the suspect has left the area; there is no danger to the public, the sheriff said.

The bank is working with authorities to capture an image of the suspect from security camera footage.

The Sheriff's department also notified the Shellsburg Elementary School, which went into lock down protocol for the final hour of class. Deputies provided security as school was dismissed.

This is the third bank robbery in Benton County in the last seven years.

In April of 2008, the Keystone Savings Bank was robbed, and in August 2009, the Security State Bank in Urbana was also robbed. Rural Keystone resident Ronald Murray was convicted of using an air pistol in the Keystone robbery. Nobody has been charged in the Urbana robbery.

Along with several Benton County Deputies and Shellsburg Police, FBI agents in unmarked Chevy Impalas arrived in Shellsburg shortly after the robbery; Forsyth said the FBI typically investigates bank robberies. 

Anyone with knowledge of the identity of the aforementioned individual is asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff's Office at 319-472-2337.

The investigation is being conducted by the Benton County Sheriff's Office, Shellsburg Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Department of Transportation-Motor Vehicle Enforcement.