The FBI and V.I. police continued combing St. Thomas Friday for a Caucasian male who robbed the Chase Manhattan Bank bank on the waterfront Thursday. New information Friday provided a description of the man, who escaped with $16,000.
Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said the man, whose image was captured on a closed-circuit video camera, was 6 feet tall and slender, with black hair. He was wearing blue shorts, a white T-shirt, a blue hat and sunglasses.
Police Commissioner Franz A. Christian said no one was injured when the suspect walked into the bank at 10:35 a.m. Thursday, brandished a handgun, slipped a note to the teller demanding all the money she had, and then escaped on foot, running towards Rothschild Francis "Market" Square, leaving a trail of money behind.
"We are following a number of leads along with the FBI," Christian said Thursday afternoon.
Christian declined to provide specifics on the case. When asked whether the robber might have been stained by an ink bomb activated in a money bag handed him by the teller, the commissioner said, "That is a question I would prefer to leave unanswered."
Following the robbery, the branch closed for the remainder of the day Thursday. It reopened Friday as usual at 8:30 a.m., providing full service to customers.
Christian urged anyone with information to contact the FBI at 776-9440 or 777-3363. The Police Department may be contacted at 774-4050 or at 911. Police officials said all information will be held in confidence.