Wedgefield man named suspect in armed robbery at Sumter SAFE bank

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A Wedgefield man has been identified as the suspect in a Friday morning bank robbery in Sumter.

Moses Scott Priester, 54, of Emil Road, is wanted in connection to the armed robbery that occurred about 9:45 a.m. at the SAFE Federal Credit Union on Oswego Highway, according to Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for the Sumter Police Department.

A suspect was seen on surveillance footage getting into the passenger side of a light-colored sedan, which police say was possibly a Toyota Avalon.

With the first calls coming in about 9:45 a.m., bank employees and customers were still on lockdown inside the building after 11 a.m. with the police department on scene at 1 p.m. There have been no indications anyone was injured.

The family of the teller the robber targeted was waiting across the street at Grace Cathedral Ministries. Two women said they found out she was inside and the teller during the incident when surveillance photos were posted online.

They said she has since been able to make contact with her mother and that the rest of them will wait until she comes out.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. A cash reward may be available for information leading to an arrest.

Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by logging onto www.P3tips.com and clicking on the “Submit a New Tip” tab or by downloading the new P3 Tips app for Apple and Android devices.