An armed man who tried to rob a bank located inside a Flagstaff grocery store Friday morning appears to have robbed another grocery store bank in Queen Creek later in the day.

Sgt. Tom Boughner of the police department said that a Compass Bank inside Albertson's in Queen Creek was held up by an armed man Friday night. The suspect matches the description of an armed man who nearly robbed the Compass Bank in Flagstaff Friday morning.

Authorities continue to search for the suspect.

According to Flagstaff police, the man tried to rob the Compass Bank inside Albertson's, 1416 E. Route 66, at about 11 a.m.

But the clerk, who never heard the would-be robber say "robbery," which would have forced the teller to hand over the money, tried to get the man to fill out a deposit slip. Eventually, the frustrated suspect left the store without any money.

Police launched a multi-agency search of the Switzer Mesa area by ground and air, but the robber was not spotted. Police scaled back the search about three hours later. During the search, police recommended a lockdown at several nearby schools.

The suspect was described as a white male, about 5-foot-10, heavyset, with a handle-bar mustache. He was last seen wearing a straw hat, a sweatshirt, black pants and white shoes.

Boughner said that because the bank was federally insured, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is participating in the investigation.

Residents who might have information about the Flagstaff robbery are asked to contact the police department at 774-1414.

— Larry Hendricks,

Daily Sun Staff