An armed robbery was reported 2:33 p.m. Wednesday by employees at the Prairie State Bank on 1850 18th St.

Lt. John Bennett of the Charleston Police Department said the suspect entered the building, demanded money and left.

The suspect left the bank on foot, westbound on Garfield from 18th St.

According to a press release sent by the CPD, the weapon the suspect displayed was described as a silver-colored revolver.

“All we know at this point is that we had a bank robbery and we put that out on a campus alert,” Bennett said. “We don’t now (if anything was stolen) we are still checking the area.”

Bennett said reports stated that the suspect displayed something witnesses’ thought looked like a firearm. It was reported that the suspect was last seen fleeing the bank building on foot.

The suspect was described white male, approximately 5 feet and 6 inches tall and was wearing a NASCAR hat with the number 88 on it, a dark, possibly maroon short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts.

On the suspect’s arm is a cut on the top of his right forearm that was scabbed over.

The Charleston Police Department, the Eastern Police Department and Coles County Sheriff Department were on the scene.

“As far as I know, the call was placed by phone,” said Lt. Bennett. “We didn’t get a report of the bank alarm, we got a report from a phone call.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident or the identity of the suspect is encourage to message the CPD on their Facebook page or contact the Coles County Crime Stoppers at 866-345-8488.

Angelica Cataldo and Cassie Buchman can be reached at 581-2812 or dennewsdesk@gmail.com