PORTLAND, Maine — Police believe a man robbed a credit union and Bank of America branch in quick succession Friday around noon. An ensuing manhunt closed a parking garage near the city’s central square.
Maj. Don Krier with the Portland Police Department said outside the Monument Square parking garage that police believe the same suspect robbed the cPort Credit Union at 285 Forest Ave. around 11:45 a.m., then the Bank of America branch in Monument Square around 12:20 p.m.
Surveillance photos released by police Friday afternoon show a man pointing a gun at a bank customer with his right hand and holding what appears to be a book in his left hand.
Police believe both robberies were committed by the same person, who reportedly demanded cash at the register and fled on foot. The banks are less than 1 mile apart, which would take a person about 25 to 30 minutes to walk at a normal pace.
Police said no injuries were reported in either robbery.
The suspect likely fled on foot from the garage after the robbery, which temporarily was closed during the sweep, according to Krier. Dozens of onlookers awaited the garage reopening to access their cars parked inside.
In a release issued Friday afternoon, Portland police described the perpetrator as a black male in his 20s or 30s, about 6 feet 1 inch tall, with a thin build. He was wearing tan bucket-style hat with lime green trim band.
The robber and an accomplice allegedly fled in a late-model red Ford or Mercury sedan, according to what police described as witness reports.
The robberies come after a separate unsolved credit union robbery May 26. Police have not determined whether there is a connection between that robbery and the incidents Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 207-874-8575.