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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Police searching for Valley bank robber

Spokane Valley police are investigating a robbery at an East Sprague bank today that locked down two nearby schools. At 2:26 this afternoon, a white man walked in the west door of the Sterling Savings Bank at 11205 E. Sprague Ave. He walked to the teller, displayed a handgun, then took the money and walked out the east door, said Spokane Valley Police Sgt. Bill Beeman. The incident put two Central Valley School District schools on lockdown while police looked for the robber. Broadway Elementary was one of them. School officials were “dismissing children to their parents one at a time out the front of the building,” during the lockdown, said Melanie Rose, district spokeswoman. North Pines Middle School let out at 2:40 p.m., but the kids who remained for activities were locked inside. The lockdown was lifted shortly after 4 p.m. Police said the robber was described as betwen 25 to 30 years old, about 5-foot-6 and about 130 pounds. He wore sunglasses, a dark coat, a stocking cap and dark jeans. The suspect discarded the stocking cap and it was recovered by officers. Police did bring in a K9 unit to track the robber, but the dog was unable to find the trail. “Right now, we’re just in the investigation phase,” Beeman said.