A male dressed in all black and presumed to be carrying a handgun, robbed the Citizens Bank and Trust off U.S. 72 East shortly before 5 p.m. Monday, according to Athens Police Capt. Marty Bruce.

A blurry bank surveillance photo shows a hooded male, but gives little indication of his race. He was last seen by bank employees heading east on U.S. 72 toward Interstate 65.

“The robber told the teller to ‘give me the money,” said Bruce. “The robber was believed to be armed with a handgun.”

Bruce said witnesses reported that the robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money in a newer model Dodge extended-cab pickup.

The search continued into the evening for the suspect.

Further description of the pickup included that it has a chrome brush guard.

Police checked a black Dodge Ram parked on the side of I-65 and they were checked all hotels in the area. They were also checking on employees at Bank Independent after two 911 calls were made from there about the same time. Bruce said those calls turned out to be nothing serious.

Citizens Bank is located next to the Nestle Tollhouse Cafe.

Initial reports said the suspect was white. However, later reports said the robber’s race was unknown.

Second bank

This is the second area bank robbery in a little over a month.

On April 29 a man, described as a transient, held up Reliance Bank in Capshaw with a BB pistol Stephen Lamar Vaughn, 40, of 315 E. Main St., Lynch, Ky., was arrested and charged after leading a 20-car string of law-enforcement officers on a chase through Athens and along Interstate 65 before being rammed and then striking a guardrail, an official said.

Vaughn reached speeds of 120 miles per hour on 31 and 65 at times.