Honolulu police are looking for a man who robbed First Hawaiian Bank’s Waikiki branch and deployed pepper spray into the air that sickened employees.
“This afternoon, there was an attempted robbery at our Waikiki Branch,” read a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser from First Hawaiian Bank. “All employees and customers are safe. The branch remained closed for the rest of the day, and First Hawaiian Bank is cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation.”
Shortly after 2 p.m. this afternoon, HPD District 6 patrol officers responded to a report of a man who entered the First Hawaiian Bank branch and passed a demand note to a teller, according to a statement from HPD.
“The teller complied and handed over currency. When the amount did not match the suspect’s demand, he became agitated and walked toward the exit. Before leaving, the suspect sprayed an unknown substance into the air. He then fled the scene on foot,” HPD said.
The substance was oleoresin capsicum, commonly known as pepper spray, which is used to disable and disorient attackers.
Multiple bank employees experienced “respiratory and skin irritation, requiring medical attention.”
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The Honolulu Fire Department responded to the “hazardous material concern”, and Honolulu Emergency Services Department treated “multiple” people at the scene, who were exposed to the “substance.”
“All individuals declined transport to emergency rooms,” HPD said.
HPD opened robbery in the second degree and use of noxious substance cases.
Police are looking for an unknown white male, between 40 and 50 years old, wearing a blue aloha print shirt, beige bucket hat, black sunglasses, blue mask, and blue gloves.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300.