More than 30 police officers, some with search dogs, and a state police helicopter combed the woods near Little Gunpowder Falls for nearly three hours Thursday for a suspect who robbed a Joppa bank.

Police called off the search at about 2 p.m. when the suspect -- said to be at least 6 feet 4 inches tall -- had not been found, said Lt. James Smith, of the county Sheriff's Department.

Detective Paul L. Cole, also of the sheriff's department, said a lone gunman went into the Maryland National Bank in the Joppatowne Plaza at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday, pointed a long-barreled revolver ata female teller and demanded money.

About six customers and employees were in the bank at the time, Cole said. No one was injured.

Witnesses said the man was wearing a black cloth mask that covered most of his face during the robbery, Cole said.

After the teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money, the robber put the money into a white plastic bag and fled the bank. The man was last seen running into the woods behind the shopping center.

Investigators do not believe the robbery is connected to any other robberies in the county, Cole said.

Officers from the sheriff's department, state police at Benson, the Baltimore County Police Department and the FBI took part in the search of the woods.

The suspect is described as a whitemale with dark hair, between 6 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds, sheriff's detectives said. He is believed to be in his early 20s.

The man was wearing a baseball cap, a dark green shirt and blue jeans, police said.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the sheriff's department at 838-6600.