Two area bank robberies may be linked

A robbery at a Hawthorne bank Monday came days after a similar robbery in Starke, according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office news release. Only six days apart, both incidents involved a suspect using a device claiming it was bomb. In both cases, the devices were later found out to not be bombs.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office are working closely with the Starke Police Department to see if the two incidents are related, but there is no conclusive evidence so far, said Art Forgey, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office.

The Hawthorne robbery took place at the M&S Bank, 6875 S.E. 22lst Street, just before noon. The device left behind by the suspect was originally thought to be an improvised explosive device. The Sheriff’s Office bomb squad later found that the small black bag left behind by the suspect was not a bomb. No one was injured in the incident.

The suspect fled on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.

Witnesses described the suspect’s appearance as being “similar to actor Samuel L. Jackson.” He was described as a black male, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, possibly in his thirties, and wearing a grey coat and a knit stocking cap. He also wore a latex glove on his right hand and had either dreadlock-style hair or was wearing a wig.

The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information on the incident to call 352-955-1818 for the Sheriff’s Office or 352-367-4177 for Detective Sheryl Strickland. Callers may also remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867.