Bank bomb threat suspect escapes with cash

A man who used a bomb threat to rob a downtown bank Wednesday morning fled with an “undisclosed” amount of money, authorities said.

The suspect, described as a black man in his 30s, 6 feet,1 inches tall and 180 pounds, set off a bomb scare that prompted a building evacuation and snarled nearby traffic for more than an hour.

Joseph Dickey, a special agent with the FBI’s Las Vegas field office, said the robbery happened shortly after 9 a.m. at Nevada State Bank, 230 Las Vegas Blvd. South, near Bridger Avenue.

Dickey said the suspect approached the teller holding a package and said there was an explosive device inside. Dickey said the suspect demanded money and then fled.

The bank was evacuated. As of Wednesday afternoon, the suspect had not been arrested.

Dickey said an all-hazards task force that handles terrorist events and chemical and explosive attacks arrived and took the package behind the bank. Task force members found the package contained a cigar box with batteries and wires.

Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Cassell said streets near the crime scene were closed until 11 a.m. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark blue or black jacket with the University of Notre Dame logo on the front and the words “Notre Dame” on the back.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the robbery is urged to call the FBI at 385-1281.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.