CEDAR FALLS - Police are investigating a reported bank robbery at the Wells Fargo bank branch near College Square this morning.

The incident was reported just before noon.

Courier staff at the scene said police cordoned off the parking lot of the former Hy-Vee store building just west of the mall, where the free-standing Wells Fargo bank branch is located, as they proceeded with their investigation. Police also could be seen checking the surrounding neighborhood.

Police Chief Jeff Olson described the suspect as 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 inches tall, wearing blue jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt that said "GAP" on the front and sunglasses. Part of his face was covered, but the covering fell down at some point and his likeness was captured on a security camera.

Olson said there are "definite similarities" between this and the previous robberies. The suspect passed a note to a teller demanding money in this and the other cases, and suspect descriptions were similar.

Police were canvassing the neighborhood south of the bank and the old Hy-Vee grocery store building, going door to door. A woman who did not want to have herself or her residence identified told The Courier she believed she saw an individual matching the suspect's description walk by her window. Police were trying to preserve footprints left in the snow nearby and were investigating the possibility that the suspect had parked a vehicle there.

It is the fourth financial institution robbed in the city in a month. The most recent one occurred Saturday at the Iowa Community Credit Union branch on Cedar Heights Drive. The first two institutions robbed were both downtown, a block from the police station.

Olson said a reward would be offered for information leading to the suspect's arrest. He said the FBI is assisting with this investigation, as with the previous robberies.

Read additional online updates and Tuesday's Courier for more details.