Police still searching for bank robber
By Andy Gates - Argus Observer
Friday, April 13, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
ONTARIO - Ontario police are following up on at least 10 leads and still searching for a toothless man who apparently robbed a Washington Mutual Bank Wednesday afternoon just across the street from the Ontario Police Department.
There have been no arrests and there are no persons of interest yet in the case, Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander said Thursday afternoon.
“There is nothing substantial at this time to report. We’re still sifting through all of our leads,” Alexander said.
Images of the accused robber were caught on video surveillance at the bank, and tips have been received from as far as western Oregon and throughout the Treasure Valley, Alexander said.
“There’s been really good community response,” Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee said Thursday.
Kee said police have been following up on tips as they come in.
“It’s a little overwhelming, there’s so much information,” Kee said.
Photos were dispersed after the incident to media outlets and police agencies, Alexander said.
Some leads have been eliminated. However, Alexander said Thursday afternoon, “we have at least 10 leads at this point.”
Most of the leads have involved people without teeth, Alexander said.
The robbery was reported at 319 S.W. Fourth Ave., and occurred within 30 seconds around 1:46 p.m., police have said.
A man entered the bank and waited in line for a teller before handing the bank employee a note demanding money.
The man left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, along with his note, Alexander said.
No weapons were displayed in the incident, and the alleged robber has been described as toothless, smelling of cigarette smoke, with several days of facial hair growth, wearing a blue zip-up sweatshirt with a hood, blue jeans and a baseball cap. The cap had green camouflage in the front and dark mesh material in the back, Alexander said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Ontario Police at (541) 889-5312.
In other public safety news:
— Malheur County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Oregon State Police officers responded to a domestic violence situation Wednesday afternoon just outside Ontario, where an unloaded firearm was indirectly involved and a 42-year-old man was arrested.
Police arrested Donald Olsen, at his residence situated at 3496 N.W. 10th Avenue around 5 p.m. for fourth degree assault, Malheur County Undersheriff Brian Wolfe said Thursday.
Olsen threatened to harm himself with a firearm, Wolfe said, however ammunition was not involved.
Police were called to the scene by other people at the home, Wolfe said.
Olsen was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Malheur County Circuit Court on charges of first degree criminal mistreatment, a felony, and fourth degree assault and harassment, according to the court schedule.
Olsen is being held in the Malheur County Jail and his bond was set at $1,500 cash, Wolfe said.
— A fire originated in a pump motor for a water well inside of a pump house Wednesday morning, and spread to a home and a shed situated at 715 Canyon 2 Road around 7:39 a.m., Ontario Fire & Rescue Chief Terry Mairs said.
The fire destroyed the pump house, the exterior wall surface of the home and another shed adjacent to the residence, Mairs said.
Mairs said he estimates damages are around $10,000.
The home is still livable and there were no injuries, Mairs said, however, a bedroom sustained smoke and water damage.
