Bomb squad called in to clear robbed bank on Broadway

No one was injured after a man made off with an undisclosed amount of cash after robbing a Bank of Missouri branch Friday in Cape Girardeau, police said.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to an emergency call from the bank at 440 Broadway at 9:35 a.m.

Police spokesmen Jason Selzer and Darin Hickey said a suspect came into the bank with a "device," left it on a counter and fled west on foot with the money. The suspect had not been apprehended as of Saturday evening.

Police released photos of the robber Friday afternoon. The robber was described as a tall man with a medium build.

Officers called in the Southeast Missouri Regional Bomb Squad to assist as they investigated the robbery.

The squad deployed a robot inside the bank to check for explosives, in addition to a black German shepherd.

A bomb-disposal robot is deployed on Middle Street south of The Bank of Missouri, 440 Broadway, Friday, May 9, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The robot later dropped, then picked up, a small object as it left the bank. The item was taken to an undisclosed location for investigation.

Traffic was diverted within a block of the building until shortly after noon Friday, when the dog emerged from the bank branch and police took down the roadblocks, declaring the building clear of potential dangers.

The Southeast Missouri Regional Bomb Squad arrives at The Bank of Missouri, 440 Broadway, Friday, May 9, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The robbery occurred about the same time a group of police gathered in Cape Girardeau County Park for an annual memorial event for fallen officers. Only off-duty officers and staff attended the event, Selzer said.

The Broadway branch was expected to reopen Monday during normal business hours, according to an email the bank sent to customers Friday afternoon.

"We are asking that customers please use one of our other three Cape Girardeau locations at this time so that authorities may continue their investigation," it said.

(Cape Girardeau Police Department) A surveillance camera image of the Bank of Missouri robber.

Pertinent address: 440 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.