MIDDLESBORO — At approximately 3:40 p.m. Monday afternoon, a bank robber held a gun on employees at the East branch of Community Trust Bank and demanded cash.

Middlesboro Police, along with other responding law enforcement entities, set up a perimeter from the north side of the Cumberland Gap tunnel to Middlesboro’s city limits at U.S. Hwy. 25-E.

Claiborne County Police Department, Bell County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky State Police searched surrounding areas for the vehicle spotted on Community Trust Bank’s surveillance camera footage.

Reportedly, the vehicle was a 1989 dark blue, full size Chevrolet Z71 pick up truck. A tag number was not immediately available, nor was a description of the suspect.

As of Monday evening, police had not caught the suspect.

The suspect, a lone male, allegedly entered the bank and asked about opening up a new account. Sometime during the transaction, the man brandished a weapon and demanded money from bank employees.

Reportedly, the man did make away with some cash, although the exact amount is, at this time, unknown.

Community Trust Bank employees declined to comment.

Although the Middlesboro Police Department did respond to the scene and begin the preliminary investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been notified and will investigate the crime. Bank robbery is considered a federal crime.

Sarah Miracle is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News and can be reached via e-mail at editor@middlesborodailynews.com.

Photos: Police responded to a bank robbery at the Community Trust Bank pictured above on Monday afternoon. The suspect was not apprehended immediately after the robbery. He made away with cash, although the exact amount is undetermined.

The East branch of Community Trust Bank was closed on Monday afternoon, following an armed robbery of the establishment.

(SARAH MIRACLE/ Middlesboro Daily News)