Ryan Brennecke / The BulletinThe downtown Bend branch of Home Federal Bank was robbed Friday afternoon for the third time in about a year and a half.

A man robbed the Home Federal Bank in downtown Bend Friday afternoon, the third time the bank has been hit by a robber in 18 months.

Officers from the Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and FBI responded to a report of a robbery at about 3:15 p.m. Friday, converging at the corner of Bond Street and Franklin Avenue.

The suspect, armed with a weapon and wearing a cloth over his face, fled from the bank on foot with an undisclosed sum of money, according to a news release from the Bend Police Department.

Police believe he headed west toward Wall Street but were unable to locate him.

No one was hurt during the robbery.

The suspect is described as a white male adult, roughly 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing between 230 pounds and 260 pounds, according to police. He was last seen wearing dark pants and a light-colored, hooded sweatshirt.

The same Home Federal branch was robbed in July 2012 and again last December. Police have said they believe one man committed both of those robberies, as well as two robberies at a Bank of the Cascades branch near Wal-Mart — once in December 2011 and again in March 2012.

Police have described the suspect in those past robberies as heavyset, between 30 and 40 years old and roughly 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall.

Bend Police officials didn’t immediately return messages asking if they believe Friday’s robbery was committed by the same man.

Police cordoned off the Home Federal Bank building and searched nearby buildings and alleyways for signs of the suspect Friday afternoon. A Bend police officer and a police dog searched garbage cans and recycling bins behind the Downtown Bend Public Library.

At about 3:30 p.m., police handcuffed a man near the corner of Wall Street and Louisiana Avenue. He was questioned, and officers appeared to search his vehicle, but they released the man after about 30 minutes.

Police said the man they questioned was a person of interest, not a suspect.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Bend Police Department at 541-322-2960, or the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at 541-693-6911.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, eglucklich@bendbulletin.com