By John Carlin
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: May 7, 2008

At a glance, you would never know that a crime was about to happen.  The man standing at the back of the line patiently waited his turn.  But when he got to the teller he slipped her a threatening note.

Police say the man is—53 year old Bobby Wayne Widener.

He leaves so calmly that the woman behind him told police she didn’t know the bank had been robbed.

Roanoke Detective Paul Caldwell is investigating the case. “It appears he walked out the front then may have run down a back street—down Rutgers in that area, in which he lost some items of clothing.” Caldwell said the clothing included a blue ball cap and a grey hoody sweatshirt.

Police at the scene say the clothing will be used as evidence—they believe it will yield Widener’s DNA as well.

They say he has ties in Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem—but also in Tennessee.  Along with U.S. Marshals, they are hoping to bring him to justice.  They want the public’s help—but say—be careful.

“Anybody that will go to these lengths should be considered dangerous.  The suspect didn’t produce a weapon but we don’t want to take that for granted.  Anyone should use caution if they see him,” Caldwell said.