Published: September 26, 2008 12:03 am      

Cops probe East Taylor bank heist

Police from across the area are searching for the man they said robbed a 1st Summit Bank branch Thursday in East Taylor Township.

State police and FBI took up the investigation at the bank branch at 454 Park Hill Drive after the 2 p.m. robbery.

Dave Sutton and his two-man crew from Absolute Signs arrived to erect a bank sign out front as police swarmed in and two police officers and a dog were hot on the trail.

“They ran down off of the hill with the dog through the yard,” he said.

“We’re here putting up a sign. Bad timing.”

The crew continued their work as a helicopter flew overhead and authorities moved in and out of the bank.

Police from East Taylor, Nanty Glo, Johnstown and Jackson Township arrived with state police and a sheriff’s deputy.

Bank customer James Cobaugh arrived to make a deposit and found the bank closed.

“Nowadays you just don’t know what could happen,” said Cobaugh, 80.

“That’s all you read about in the paper is places being robbed. I’ll just take my check and go back home.”