Robbery details released
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Person of interest.

Appalachian Community Bank is asking for assistance from the public in order to bring about an arrest and conviction of the person or persons who were involved in the robbery of the bank on March 25, 2006. On Monday, April 17, Appalachian Bancshares Vice President and Corporate Security Officer Brian Watts released key details regarding the robbery, including bank security camera photos and an artist's rendition of a person of interest in the case.

At approximately 10:37 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, one person entered Appalachian Community Bank of Blairsville through the door adjacent to Hwy 515. The person was wearing a complete black hood covering his head, a long sleeved striped shirt, khaki pants and possibly hiking boots. The individual presented a handgun and held up two tellers.

The subject was in the bank less than two minutes before leaving through the same door he came in, on the side closest to Hwy 515. He fled east on foot, taking off the hood and circling around the building. He reportedly put on a tan baseball cap after removing the hood. The individual continued through the row of bushes near the Blairsville Restaurant parking lot, located behind the bank. The subject was seen traveling west, crossing Earnest St. towards the Westgate Shopping Center.

The suspect is a white male, 5'10" to 6'0" tall and weighing between approximately 180 lbs. and 200 lbs. He is believed to be in his mid 30s to mid 40s with sandy brown hair.

Appalachian Community Bank is offering a reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in this robbery. The bank is asking that anyone who might have been near the bank parking lot, Blairsville Restaurant, or anyone who might have noticed anyone suspicious or matching this description in the area around this time on Saturday morning, March 25, to please call Investigator Mark Cecci with the Union County Sheriff's Department at 706439-6066 or Special Agent Natalie Brunner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations at 888-2335680.

Above: Surveillance     image     provided     by     Appalachian
Community Bank shows the robber taking money from
the teller.