# Man Explodes After Being Forced to Rob Bank, Murderer Sought **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 1, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919 "2003-09-01T04:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/41 "2003-09-01T22:53:51Z")
Estimated timeline: **1:56pm** Call to Mama Mia’s Pizza-Ria, requesting delivery of as-yet-unnamed pie to “building site” out in the sticks, “at the end of a dirt road near a radio tower.” **2:16pm** Wells, pie in hand, leaves Mama Mia’s. **2:36pm** Wells arrives at the bank and, carrying extensive note, demands money with threat of a bomb. **2:37pm** Police notified. Police procedure also dispatches bomb squad, even in Erie, PA. **2:38pm** Wells leaves with semi-bulging money sack prominently displaying green $$ sign. Drives off in Geo Metro. **2:40pm** Wells gets pulled over by cops, who promptly handcuff him, then back away once they hear he’s got a bomb. **3:16pm** Boom, “[like a big old firecracker](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/kr/20030901/lo_krnewyork/robberexplodes).” _Any help on nailing down the timeline is greatly appreciated._ My immediate conclusion: Fuckwit cops. I am neither a bomb expert nor a part-time bank robber, but considering the information out there, it would be pretty easy to actuate a bomb from a distance, either with the guts of a beeper or cell phone, or even (with the apparently short distances involved) a CB or FRS. But that requires input from the would-be robber – and then, why set a timer? Drama? IMO, it’s more likely the bad guy set the bomb for 1 hour, then let Wells do his business. Now his buddy’s dead, again due to the fuckwit cops. Expect to see more of this, possibly in West VA or Ohio, where the cops take a similar tack to Erie. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/42 "2003-09-01T23:11:11Z")
If that’s your immediate conclusion, Mr. B, then you’re the fuckwit. Some municipalities have to send out, so to speak, for a bomb squad. Or would you rather have had the cops who are not trained in the apparently very specialized field of bomb removal get the guy AND themselves blown up? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/43 "2003-09-01T23:13:48Z")
As a side note, even if this was a real mad bomber and the victim had nothing to do with it, what they heck do people think the Erie PA county bomb squad was really going to be able to do if they did show up? I would WAG that 95% of the practical training all municipal bomb squads receive is _not_ how to defuse and deactivate a bomb, (much less some strapped on mad bomber conconction) but how to get it moved and/or containerized so you can blow it up. I really don’t think the Erie, PA Bomb Squad would been able to do this guy much good in practical terms. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/44 "2003-09-01T23:32:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*As a side note, even if this was a real mad bomber and the victim had nothing to do with it, what they heck do people think the Erie PA county bomb squad was really going to be able to do if they did show up? I would WAG that 95% of the practical training all municipal bomb squads receive is _not_ how to defuse and deactivate a bomb, (much less some strapped on mad bomber conconction) but how to get it moved and/or containerized so you can blow it up. I really don’t think the Erie, PA Bomb Squad would been able to do this guy much good in practical terms. \*\* You’re probably right, **astro**. We’ll most likely never know for certain, of course. I’m wondering though, if perhaps _military_ bomb squads could have done the job. Of course, they may be _legally_ prohibited from doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/45 "2003-09-01T23:54:20Z")
**Mr. B** , someone, unknown exactly who at this point, creates a bomb for the purposes of robbing a bank. The bomb goes off, killing someone who may or may not have been forced to do this, and by your obtuse logic , this death is the _fault_ of police. And we wonder why there’s a blameshifting problem in this country. :rolleyes: **Tuckerfan** : > [@](#): > > Of course, they may be legally prohibited from doing so. If you’re referring to the Posse Comitatus Act, then it’s not legally a problem that I can see. The PCA prevents soldiers from _enforcing_ law; an EOD unit wouldn’t be doing that. In fact, military units are expressly authorized to assist law enforcement in many situations. This, I believe, would be one such situation. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/46 "2003-09-01T23:54:58Z")
Tuckerfan: [Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Two](http://www.cnsl.spear.navy.mil/eodmu2/mu2index.htm) lists as pdf link on that page an instruction 3025.1 issued on January 28, 1998 and with the title \*EOD Support to Civil Authorities. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/47 "2003-09-02T00:12:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > **If that’s your immediate conclusion, Mr. B, then you’re the fuckwit.** Ooooh, Monty, I love it when you talk dirty. BTW: _Protect and Serve_ ring a bell? I’m not blaming his death on the cops, but as is typical in such municipalities, I believe they responded very slowly or not at all until it was too late. It’s a tough problem, but there are new-fangled inventional-type things that police can use to protect a bomb victim – for example, a bomb tank, a shield, a bomb blanket and at least a bomb helmet/hood. And not just for the doubtful protection of the guy strapped to the bomb, but for the citizens at large. A chunk of C4 the size of a soda can has a blast radius of 10 meters. And who knows how The cops blew it off and a guy died. I’d feel better if they’d at least have tried the green wire. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/48 "2003-09-02T00:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr. B \* > And who knows how_\* …they might have built the bomb, seeded with nails or pellets? Sorry, copy/paste got away from me. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/49 "2003-09-02T00:33:42Z")
Why did the robber need a \*real \*bomb? As I understand, bank tellers are supposed to cooperate fully–to just hand over the money in a robbery situation so that no one gets hurt. It seems like to me that he could have just gone in with an empty shoebox, claimed it was a bomb, and gotten the same results without the worry that someone might get hurt. The best way to ensure big press and a manhunt is to kill someone during a bank robbery. Normal robberies don’t inspire the same police and media attention that a homicide during a robbery does. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/50 "2003-09-02T01:00:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > **I’m not blaming his death on the cops, but as is typical in such municipalities, I believe they responded very slowly or not at all until it was too late.** Hmmm. I wonder where I got the impression that you said it was the cops fault he’s dead. This maybe?: > [@](#): > > Now his buddy’s dead, again due to the fuckwit cops. Those cops, most likely did exactly what they were trained to do, and exactly what they were directed to do. His death is the fault of the bombmaker. Period. If you want to argue aggravating circumstances, then you should at least have a clue as to what actually happened. By your posts, you do not. > [@](#): > > It’s a tough problem, but there are new-fangled inventional-type things that police can use to protect a bomb victim – for example, a bomb tank, a shield, a bomb blanket and at least a bomb helmet/hood. And not just for the doubtful protection of the guy strapped to the bomb, but for the citizens at large. All the aforementioned equipment is standard in the trunks of Erie police cruisers? Tell me, just what exactly did they have on scene, that you are aware of? And as far as cutting the green wire, who was gonna do that? The cop with the least to live for? The rookie? Who was going to walk up to a bomb, without any type of bomb protection gear, and save the life of a bank robber?\* You would do that? Not me buddy, no way. To serve and protect doesn’t mean Russian Roulette is mandatory. \*I realize he may innocent, but that was/is hardly proven or known at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/51 "2003-09-02T01:23:15Z")
**Chandeleur** and **Monty** , that’s exactly what I was thinking of. Nice to see that I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/52 "2003-09-02T01:27:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chandeleur \* > **Hmmm. I wonder where I got the impression that you said it was the cops fault he’s dead. This maybe?:** Of course it’s the bomber(s)’ fault the guy is dead. I am simply hitting on a trend of ass-thumbing cops letting people expire. > [@](#): > > Those cops, most likely did exactly what they were trained to do, and exactly what they were directed to do. His death is the fault of the bombmaker. Period. If you want to argue aggravating circumstances, then you should at least have a clue as to what actually happened. By your posts, you do not. We’ve got this vaunted “Homeland Security” group here, apparently intent on snooping through my neighbor’s panties at the airport, meanwhile leaving the readiness to the fuckwit cops? We’ve had a lot of notice, seeins how we’ve had them thar ‘stinians a whompin’ away since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. They strap bombs to their chests. That’s my broader point. > [@](#): > > All the aforementioned equipment is standard in the trunks of Erie police cruisers? If it’s not, why is it not? We’re losing rights under PATRIOT I and II and we’re getting very little in return. > [@](#): > > **Who was going to walk up to a bomb, without any type of bomb protection gear, and save the life of a bank robber?** I see. So the cops should be the arbiters of justice, right there in the street next to the Optician. Judge Dredd, right on! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/53 "2003-09-02T01:32:55Z")
Mr. B: You are an asshole. The police did not blow it off. Well, perhaps they did, but the bomb squad (cops, by the way), sued their patented super-secret ESP to fucking figure out there was someone with a bomb. I guess they bought that ESP the same place you got yours and that’s how you know the cops are responsible for his friend’s death although they weren’t anywhere near there. As I said above, you are a fuckwit. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/54 "2003-09-02T01:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > **Of course it’s the bomber(s)’ fault the guy is dead. I am simply hitting on a trend of ass-thumbing cops letting people expire…** The local cops could do nothing. That nobody else was hurt is to their credit. \*\* > [@](#): > > We’ve got this vaunted “Homeland Security” group here, apparently intent on snooping through my neighbor’s panties at the airport, meanwhile leaving the readiness to the fuckwit cops? We’ve had a lot of notice, seeins how we’ve had them thar ‘stinians a whompin’ away since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. They strap bombs to their chests. That’s my broader point.\*\* I like some nice herring every now and again, but red herring? You can keep it. \*\* > [@](#): > > If it’s not, why is it not? We’re losing rights under PATRIOT I and II and we’re getting very little in return.\*\* More red herring? No thanks, I’m full. \*\* > [@](#): > > I see. So the cops should be the arbiters of justice, right there in the street next to the Optician. Judge Dredd, right on! \*\* Get this through your thick skull: Cops do not get bomb disarmanent training. The only thing the local cops could have done different was to get killed themselves. Would that have made you happier? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/55 "2003-09-02T01:38:31Z")
“sued” in my posting above should be “used.” You compared the local police officers to Judge Dredd? What a jerk! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/56 "2003-09-02T01:42:16Z")
Brutus: Somehow, I really do get the feeling that Mr. B would have been much happier had any police officers died. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/57 "2003-09-02T02:22:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > **Mr. B: You are an asshole. The police did not blow it off. Well, perhaps they did, but the bomb squad (cops, by the way), sued their patented super-secret ESP to fucking figure out there was someone with a bomb.** It’s called radio transmissions. Or “someone’s robbing the bank and he says he’s got a bomb” via 911 (there was a call, that’s not the text). Or worse, you’re willing to let them have a “bye” even though we’ve had the tech-fucking-nology for more than 20 years to get information from point to point via cellular phone? You, sir are a nitwit with a straw man of an argument. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Brutus_ > Get this through your thick skull: Cops do not get bomb disarmanent training. Fine, but my _arbiter of justice_ was in response to “and save the life of a bank robber.” Simply put, a bank robber has less value to his life than say, a banker? I hope you’re not in the medical profession. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Monty_You compared the local police officers to Judge Dredd? What a jerk! See above, Lash LaRue. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/58 "2003-09-02T02:38:54Z")
Hey, fuckwit. The bomb squads don’t go tearing around town on their own volition. You are ignoring facts to basically bitch about the police. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/59 "2003-09-02T02:47:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Hey, fuckwit. The bomb squads don’t go tearing around town on their own volition. You are ignoring facts to basically bitch about the police. Why? \*\* Well, you see, he was like doing 120 in a school zone and they gave him a ticket, and busted him for this pot that he had on him, and it was like totally unfair and fascist of them to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/60 "2003-09-02T02:51:26Z")
That’s funny, Tuckerfan! Now, a question for the fuckwit: What, exactly, do you expect the police officer on patrol to do with a bomb? Are you completely unaware of what a bomb is? Are you really that fucking stupid? Oh, yeah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919.md?page=4)