The Jefferson County sheriff has confirmed that a suspect is in custody in connection with a bank robbery early on Monday.

Joseph Bednarek, of Smithfield, was apprehended in Beatty Park on Monday afternoon.

The robbery happened at U.S. Bank, which is near the intersection of Price Street and State Route 152 in Smithfield. The bank is also near the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department.

Sheriff Fred Abdalla said the robber entered the bank at 9:05 a.m. Abdalla said the robber walked up to a teller.

"She had just counted some money there at her window. He said, 'Give me the money and I won't have to shoot you,'" Abdalla said.

The robber grabbed cash from the teller and fled on foot.

Bank employees followed protocol and locked the doors immediately after the robbery. Regular customers were turned away well into the afternoon because of the crime.

The sheriff said the robber was wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt pulled up over his head with the strings tight so witnesses could see very little of his face.

However, Abdalla said several people saw the robber before and after the robbery. Federal, state and local authorities all assisted in the investigation and fielded numerous tips throughout the day.

Officials from the FBI, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Smithfield police and Wells Township police were all at the scene. Around 10:45 a.m., officials with all of those agencies left the bank and went down a street off Route 152 a few blocks from the bank to check on leads.

Officers tried to find and talk to anyone who might have information by going door-to-door and talking to neighbors.

Abdalla said he believed the robber targeted this bank because of its location. He further said authorities thought the robber could be from the Smithfield area.

The sheriff said the same bank was robbed several years ago and officials were able to catch the thief that time. That robber used a knife during the crime.

Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage as details become available.