Man who robbed Bank of Missouri today may have robbed same bank earlier this month

Early reports indicate the description of the suspect in a robbery that occurred about an hour ago at Bank of Missouri on Kingshighway may the same man who allegedly committed a robbery there on Oct. 7.

Police described the man as a male, over six-foot tall, with scruffy red facial hair and an orange hat, wearing a light blue Tennessee Titans sweatshirt over a dark shirt, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the police department.

He displayed a semi-automatic firearm to a bank employee and escaped with an undiscolosed amount of money, Hovis said.

Police received the call around 11:30 a.m.

The suspect is believed to have fled in a white GM sport utility vehicle, either a Yukon or a Tahoe, Hovis said.

Hovis said he doesn’t believe timing of the robbery was connected to the rally for Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin that wrapped up about an hour-and-a-half before the suspect entered the bank. 

Because of the rally, there were more officers patrolling the streets than usual, thanks to an additional complement of personnel that normally would not be working today, Hovis said.

The bank was also robbed on Oct. 6. The suspect in that robbery is still at large.

Check back at semissourian.com later for more information as it becomes available.