The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO), in collaboration with the FBI Jacksonville division, are pressing forward with their investigation into the Ameris Bank heist that shocked St. Augustine earlier this month. The robbery, which took place on April 9, unfolded at the bank branch located at 4070 US1 South. In a social media release, SJSO shared a glimpse of the suspect captured by surveillance cameras entering the bank at approximately 10:57 am, armed and ready to execute the crime.
According to the SJSO Facebook page, the perpetrator brandished a black semi-automatic handgun and promptly directed the bank staff to move away from the teller stations. He then proceeded to leap over the counter, swiftly removing cash from four stations, and stuffing it into a plastic "Publix" shopping bag he brought along. This entire episode took place within an alarmingly brief span of one minute and twenty seconds, before the suspect made his escape on foot.
Investigators have released details of the suspect's attire at the time of the robbery. He was dressed in an "Ozark" snorkel mask, a black neck gaiter, grey hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, coupled with vinyl gloves, and white Adidas running shoes. Visuals from the surveillance footage reveal that the man is white, with a thin athletic build, blonde or sandy colored hair, and is approximately 5’10” tall. He was last seen walking south on a jogging trail toward Palermo Road following the event.
The SJSO and FBI are casting a wide net, reaching out to locals for assistance in their ongoing investigation. "If you reside, work, or were visiting the area of occurrence please review any video surveillance recordings you have access to and upload footage of interest," reads the social plea from the law enforcement agencies. Community members with potential leads or relevant footage are being directed to an online evidence submission portal. For those preferring to contribute information by phone, they can reach out to the SJSO at (904) 824-8304, or via email at [email protected].
There's also an opportunity for the informants to remain incognito and possibly receive financial rewards for their cooperation. "You can also remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward by contacting Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS (8477)," advised the SJSO.
