Briefly in the news

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Police are still looking for a man who robbed a Wells

Fargo Bank branch, and then dropped off a bag that, he told bank tellers,

contained a bomb.

About 90 minutes after the robber fled the bank, the Orange County

Sheriff’s Department bomb squad discovered the bomb to be a hoax. The bag

contained an “electronic device,” officials said. The scare, however,

shut off Coast Highway and portions of two other streets, resulting in a

traffic standstill in that duration.

Employees in businesses near the bank were also evacuated during that

time to ensure safety.

Police continued to decline revealing how much money the robber stole

from the bank.

The robber has been described as a 6-foot white man in his 40s with

short, dark hair. He is said to have been wearing a long-sleeve shirt, a

jacket, a dark color hat and dark color trousers. Police said he escaped

in a newer model white Chevy Suburban.

Those with information are asked to call the Newport Beach Police

Department at (800) 550-6273.