Brandon Bank Robbery Suspect Sought

Deputies are searching for a man who they say robbed a Providence Road bank Thursday afternoon and who is a three-time violent offender.

Jeffrey Michael Cooper, 36, whose last known address is 806 Louise St. in Brandon, is suspected of robbing the Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, 1009 Providence Road, at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.

Cooper entered the bank and demanded money from the teller, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

Cooper has been convicted of other bank robberies and thefts. He completed an almost two-year state prison sentence in 2009 for a robbery conviction.

He was last seen wearing a long-sleeve, navy sweater or jacket, dark blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 247-8200 or, to be eligible for a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at crimestopperstb.com or text "CSTB plus your tip" to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637).