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'Dust Mask Bandit' Sought In NorCal, Oregon Bank Robberies

McKINLEYVILLE, Humboldt County (CBS/AP) -- Authorities are searching for a man whom they want to question about a string of bank robberies in Northern California and Oregon.

FBI officials say they believe six robberies in McKinleyville, Yreka and Smith River on California's northern coast and Grants Pass, Ore., are linked. Officials dubbed the man shown on surveillance videos as the "Dust Mask Bandit" because of the mask he's worn to disguise his face.

The robberies date back to July 5. The latest bank hit was McKinleyville's Coast Central Credit Union last Thursday.

On Monday, Humboldt County sheriff's officials identified Clarence Joseph Lewis III as a person of interest in the case.

Deputies served a search warrant at Lewis' home in the town of Hoopa on Friday, but didn't find him there, according to Lt. Dave Morey.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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