Bank robber may have struck in Spokane

COEUR d'ALENE - Investigators said the bicycle-riding robber wanted for holding up the Wells Fargo Bank at 114 E. Appleway Ave. on Friday could be tied to several heists around Spokane.

"We're going to see if there are any similarities," said Don Robinson, FBI supervisory special agent. "But right now it's too soon to say."

The Coeur d'Alene Police Department said in recent robberies in the Spokane area, the suspect had a similar description and MO as the robber from Friday's Coeur d'Alene theft, but Sgt. Christie Wood couldn't comment on any correlation between the cases.

The scenario has played out at least six times since December, with the suspect waving his gun around before riding away on a bicycle.

On Friday, the suspect was last seen riding southbound on Government Way on a gray, three-speed bicycle.

He was described as being his in late 20s to early 30s, and was wearing a black helmet, jean shorts, a short-sleeve, button-up shirt, and white shoes with red and black stripes.

On Friday the man entered the bank around 6 p.m. wearing a bike helmet and a mask, threw cloth re-usable grocery bags at the tellers and demanded they hurry up and fill them. He displayed a large caliber handgun before fleeing with a sack filled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The case has been turned over to the FBI, and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with any information on this crime is asked to call the Coeur d'Alene Police Department at 769-2320 or the FBI office at 664-5128.