Cocke County, Tennessee authorities are searching for two suspects they say not only robbed a bank, but disarmed the responding officer.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that it happened around 3:00 Wednesday afternoon at Tennessee State Bank in Newport, Tennessee.

They say two men, dressed in black, came into the bank. They tell us one was carrying an assault-type rifle.

Police say the officer that responded to the hold-up alarm was the first to show up, drawing their attention outside.

They say the armed suspect told the officer to lie on the ground and that's when police say he unloaded the ammunition from the service weapon.

Police say they took the weapon and left in a silver SUV. They believe they were heading toward North Carolina on Interstate 40.