Investigators spent Thursday looking for suspects in a morning bank robbery on Walton Way.
Two men wearing ski masks, both described as black, about 6 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, robbed the Georgia Bank & Trust branch at 1530 Walton Way about 9:15 a.m., witnesses said.
Lt. Scott Peebles, of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, said the getaway vehicle, a green 1990 Chevrolet Caprice, was reported stolen Wednesday night from Augusta Mall.
"The car is going to be key at this point," Lt. Peebles said.
Investigators are asking any employees of nearby businesses who might have seen the car or those driving it to contact authorities. They also asked merchants to look for money stained red from a dye pack that exploded after the robbery.
"It's not something that can be wiped off easily," Lt. Peebles said.
Deputies said they think the dye pack's explosion prompted the robbers to leave the car and flee into the neighborhood near Emmett and Parnell streets.
Police had tracking dogs searching the area Thursday morning. Some of the stolen money was dropped in the neighborhood. Police were seen looking under houses and inside abandoned homes in the area.
Deputies said a lockdown of nearby Tubman Middle School was to protect pupils. Paine College was also said to be taking security measures, although police said they do not believe the men entered school grounds.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
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Maybe these robbers missed what happens in Richmond County to robbers. A few more need to be stopped dead in their tracks and they will stop terrorizing others over a few dollars. These violent criminals who make conscious decisions to take from others that which does not belong to them through intimidation or the use of weapons are the lowest of scum. They traumatize others, often for many years after the incident all for their own selfish wants and desires and the quick and easy dollar. The public MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to help identify, get tag numbers, full descriptions, direction of travel, etc. to 9-1-1 as quickly as possible during any incident and get these thugs off of our streets.
I know a way to generate a few thousand more jobs. We need to do like some other countries; every fast food joint, bank, mall, etc needs to be patrolled by security carrying a sawed of shot gun and side arm. I'd love to see a few more of these guys killed. The chicken joint burgler killing was the highlight of my day.
all i see is one guy, where's the other suspect?
It has only just begun, the closer it gets to the Christmas holiday, the worst these criminals are gonna get. It's expensive but it would be wise for a lot of these businesses to hire security for the employees and customers. I thought all banks had security, the photo shows this fool coming in pointing a gun, where was security??????????????
Give a description of the person who reported the car stolen the nite before.
Post two hidden snipers somewhere in Augusta guarding banks. Let the crooks figure out where they are.
Hmmm, Black guy, Black Pants(kinda saggy), Black shoes, grey hoodie and white gloves. His shoes look white while he's jumping the counter. I wonder what the Troglodytes will have to say about this?
Dang, I forgot the ski mask....... accessories, accessories.
Oh Yeah, Looks like he had a black bag too......Details,details.