Colusa bank robber remains at-large

The search for the man who robbed the US Bank in Colusa at gunpoint Friday is focused on a sketchy vehicle outline and possible fingerprints left behind at the counter, Colusa police Sgt. Josh Fitch said.

Fitch said review of security video from nearby businesses pointed to the vehicle, which he described as "red and smaller."

He also said fingerprints were processed at the scene and are being analyzed.

The FBI is the lead agency in the investigation.

The man is described as about 50 years old, 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, with salt and pepper hair.

He entered the bank shortly before 5 p.m. and approached a teller, put a bag on the counter and then displayed a semi-automatic handgun — demanding the teller put all the money from the drawer on the counter.

He then filled the bag and escaped through the bank's back door.

Fitch said the man was so calm during the incident that the other customers and bank employees were not aware the robbery was taking place until after he left, getting away with an undisclosed about of money.

Colusa police and Colusa County sheriff's deputies responded to the alarm within four minutes, Stark said, but the man was not found.

The robber was last seen wearing blue jeans with a long-sleeved burgundy shirt or light jacket over a white T-shirt, and wearing a black hat with orange lettering.

The event triggered memories of a similar incident just 18 months ago.

That is when a Chico man, Michael Taylor, entered the bank at midday on March 8, demanded money or said he would blow up a school or the bank.

Six days earlier, Taylor robbed an Umpqua branch in Los Molinos.

He got away with $8,647 from Umpqua and $4,857 from the Colusa bank. It is believed he gambled all the money away.

Colusa Casino Resort, which provided information that led to the arrest of Taylor at his home, was put on notice after Friday's robbery as well.

Fitch said no new leads were created on the latest robbery.

Last September, Taylor was sentenced to five years in federal prison for robbing the two banks.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Colusa police at 458-7777.