Man pulls bank prank

By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason FCT Staff Writer
Red Bay Police responded to a call from Citizen's Bank around 11:30 am Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Employees of the bank called the police when a man walked into the bank, put on a mask, took it off, and then walked out. The man reportedly told employees "I fooled you" before leaving the bank, Red Bay Police Chief Pat Creel said.
The suspect was not armed and no money was taken from the bank. The incident seems to be some sort of Halloween prank, Creel said.
The suspect appeared to be on foot, but a neighbor saw a man get into a black truck around the time the suspect left the bank. The police scoured the city in search of the suspect, but the heavy lunchtime traffic made it impossible to see anyone suspicious, Creel said.
"[With all the traffic], the suspect just disappeared into the crowd," Creel said.
Red Bay Police contacted the authorities in Belmont, Miss. about the incident in case he fled to the state line, Creel said.
"We think he probably headed to Mississippi [after the incident]," Creel said.
The suspect is a white male with dark hair and medium build, and was wearing a Sea 'n Suds shirt. He appeared to be between 25 and 30 years old. There is no picture of the suspect available since the bank's surveillance cameras were being repaired at the time of the incident, Creel said.
The suspect, if caught, could be charged with causing public alarm, which is a Class A Misdemeanor, which is punishable with up to a year in jail, Joey Rushing, district attorney, said.