OPD searching for suspect

FBI agents and Odessa Police Department officers are still on the hunt for a robbery suspect near Security State Bank, 4040 E. 42nd St.

Law enforcement are searching primarily in the area of East 42nd and Englewood and East 42nd and Tanglewood.

Police Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said the suspect entered the bank at 9:51 a.m. with a handgun and demanded money. After bank employees complied, he left with an undetermined amount of money.

The suspect is described as a black male around 20 years old, 5’10" and 180 pounds, wearing a black hoodie with a Sean John label. The suspect was also described as wearing a white polo shirt and red, orange and white jersey underneath, plus dark blue jeans. He is described as wearing gloves, a black cap and black and white tennis shoes.

He was last seen running behind the bank heading south. The Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter, ECISD Police, Texas Rangers, the Ector County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 units of the Ft. Stockton and Colorado City Texas Department of Corrections assisted in the search. Officers are stationed throughout the area. Nimitz Junior High and Blanton Elementary went into shelter in place after the robbery as a precaution.

The Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter, ECISD Police, Texas Rangers, the Ector County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 units of the Ft. Stockton and Colorado City Texas Department of Corrections assisted in the search.

Billy Dow lives near the Security State Bank and said he is surprised by the robbery.

"This neighborhood is as safe as your mother’s belly," he said. "It’s normally really quiet. I work from home on Fridays and heard the helicopter and saw people outside and wondered what happened."