Arrest made in morning robbery at Wells Fargo Bank

Historic City News learned that Saint Augustine Police responded to 24 Cathedral Place this afternoon; after a Wells Fargo Bank teller reported that they were robbed by a man carrying a handgun.

St. Johns County deputies assisted police by deploying the Sheriff’s helicopter and K-9 units. Canine officers and plain-clothes detectives roamed the area around lunchtime, even as school groups toured the plaza and historic district.

Police provided a description of the suspect to businesses downtown based on witness observations. Flagler College sent an e-mail alert to its students that described the bank robber as a white male, 50 years-old, mustache, with faded jeans and a tan, long-sleeved shirt.

The dye pack from the bank was activated. As officers searched the area near St. George Street, they found a red-stained stack of money in an alley by the bank.

Using the witness descriptions, police located and arrested 65 year-old Robert Keith Sherley who was booked into the St. Johns County Detention Facility at 3:45 p.m. today.

Bond has not yet been set on the first-degree felony robbery charges. Sherley will have his first appearance hearing in the morning. Bond may be established at that time.

A quick check of recent area arrests show that the Gainesville Police Department arrested Sherley on February 5, 2010 in Alachua County where he was charged with grand theft — where the property stolen is more than $5,000 and less than $10,000 in value.