# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/61 "2003-09-02T02:56:35Z")
Now, now **Monty** I’m sure **Mr.B** has specialized experience in explosives and is just waiting for the right moment to reveal it. After all he suggested the use of the that bomb hood thingy. He must know what he is talking about. Right? ---
**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, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/62 "2003-09-02T03:00:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > **…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…** You stupid sonuvabitch. If it was the goddamned Pope who was sitting there, with a ticking bomb on him, you know what the cops would have done? The same fucking thing: Keep him and the bomb at a safe distance from other people, and wait for the bomb squad. You are a tiny-brained moron. You _refuse_ to see that the police officers did exactly what they were supposed to. Any cop that tried to play ‘heroic explosives technician’ would have just gotten hurt or killed himself. And yes, a bank robber has less ‘value’, to me, than a banker. How the living fuck that is relevant in any way is beyond me. There was _one_ bomb involved, dipshit. One. The officers dealt with that _one_ bomb to the best of their abilities. They did not deal with another bomb first. No decision regarding one lifes value over another was made. And what the fuck did you mean with: > [@](#): > > 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. Does your goddamned ignorance know no bounds? Tell me you have a nail stuck in your brain, or something (did you screw up with your home trepanning plans?). How the living hell do you associate this other persons death to ‘the fuckwit cops’? You are part of the problem, that much is certain. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/63 "2003-09-02T03:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\* > 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?_\* It’s far, far worse than you think. Guess where Tom Ridge, head of the Office of Homeland Security is from? Erie, Pa. Coincidence? You be the judge. I, personally, am quite sure that there’s a vast conspiracy involved. ---
**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, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/64 "2003-09-02T03:12:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*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. \*\* Actually, they cited me out for $100. It was less than a quarter and I am a volunteer fireman. > [@](#): > > _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? > > 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?\*\* Question 1: It’s called the RADIO. RAY-dee-oh. 2: Call the bomb squad on said invention. It is, by all accounts, a very accessible city and one’s FBI Bureau surely knows how to get the ball rolling, right? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Brutus_ > And yes, a bank robber has less ‘value’, to me, than a banker. Very nice. Now I can consider the source. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Brutus_ > You are part of the problem, that much is certain. Oh you’re just _mad_ I didn’t say “et tu!” That’s clever, though. I’m part of the problem, why? Because I’m Jewish? **Fruitbat** , I’m going to let that one slide. From what I’ve read from you, you are smart enough to know this is about a little more than a bomb. The cops fucked up. Accept it. And don’t go trumpeting “police procedure,” that’s just plain sophistry. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/65 "2003-09-02T03:27:13Z")
Mr. B, I’m trying to follow your logic here. Am I mistaken in thinking that your assessment of the police officers involved as fuckwits rests upon the belief that they **didn’t** call the bomb squad on their radios? If that belief turns out to be false (as I’m pretty sure it is), then do you still think they’re fuckwits? And if so, what **specifically** should they have done in this nightmarish situation? ---
**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, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/66 "2003-09-02T03:32:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baldwin \* > \*\*Mr. B, I’m trying to follow your logic here. Am I mistaken in thinking that your assessment of the police officers involved as fuckwits rests upon the belief that they **didn’t** call the bomb squad on their radios? If that belief turns out to be false (as I’m pretty sure it is), then do you still think they’re fuckwits? And if so, what **specifically** should they have done in this nightmarish situation? \*\* Well, obviously, the untrained individuals in the police department should have randomly started cutting wires in hopes that it prevent dude from blowing up. Of course, if they _had_ done that, you can bet your ass that Mr. B would be hear ranting about how they should have waited for the professionals to show up and do their job. ---
**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, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/67 "2003-09-02T03:34:27Z")
Sorry, Baldwin, it’s become convoluted. I am upset because I believe the cops didn’t take it seriously. A call from the bank alerted 911 – and I think he or she making the call would’ve said “he has a bomb” – but excepting that entirely, why else would the bomb squad have taken so long to react? I mean, 40 minutes just **sitting** there, ticking away the time? Yikes. ---
**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, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/68 "2003-09-02T03:36:54Z")
Are you unfamiliar with the concept of distance, Mr. B? Or do you think they could’ve teleported over? ---
**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, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/69 "2003-09-02T03:47:03Z")
No **Tuckerfan** , I don’t want death of officers, I want accountability. I want Equal Protection Under the Law. If you live in the US, you should demand it. And **Monty** , the guy in the story got all the way out to the sticks to deliver a pizza – that much is somewhat established – in 10-15 minutes, got back to the bank and robbed it, all in the space of the _Seinfeld_ “Mulva” episode. I think the bomb squad, FBI, whatever, could’ve gotten there within 40 minutes? ---
**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, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/70 "2003-09-02T03:52:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*Sorry, Baldwin, it’s become convoluted. I am upset because I believe the cops didn’t take it seriously. A call from the bank alerted 911 – and I think he or she making the call would’ve said “he has a bomb” – but excepting that entirely, why else would the bomb squad have taken so long to react? I mean, 40 minutes just **sitting** there, ticking away the time? Yikes. \*\* Except that the articles don’t say that it was a call to 911 which alerted the police. Banks are equiped with what’s known as a “panic button.” You hit it, a computer automatically sends a signal to the police department, and the police are dispatched. Having worked in a place which was equipped with one, I can tell you that when it’s pressed, the cops show up, and someone in authority has to physically leave the building and talk to the cops before they’ll “stand down,” as it were. So, in all likelihood, the cops _didn’t_ know the guy had a bomb until they arrived on the scene, and they _wouldn’t_ know where to dispatch the bomb squad until they pulled the guy over and ascertained that he did indeed have something that appeared to be a bomb on his chest. ---
**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, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/71 "2003-09-02T03:56:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*No **Tuckerfan** , I don’t want death of officers, I want accountability. I want Equal Protection Under the Law. If you live in the US, you should demand it. > > And **Monty** , the guy in the story got all the way out to the sticks to deliver a pizza – that much is somewhat established – in 10-15 minutes, got back to the bank and robbed it, all in the space of the _Seinfeld_ “Mulva” episode. I think the bomb squad, FBI, whatever, could’ve gotten there within 40 minutes? \*\* And you’d think that the delivery guy could have found a pay phone to call the cops from or called them on his cellphone to tell them what happened, but he didn’t. Maybe we don’t have enough information about the case to start leaping to conclusions here? Nah, couldn’t be. ---
**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, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/72 "2003-09-02T04:02:58Z")
It don’t wash, **Tuckerfan**. I heard on NPR the robbery was declared via 911, but they didn’t say whether a bomb was mentioned. The guy traveled 1/4 miles away from the bank, no big challenge in navigation. I mean, don’t bomb squads have a response time, or are they pretty much there to collect what’s left in the guy’s pockets? > [@](#): > > _Tuckerfan_ > Maybe we don’t have enough information about the case to start leaping to conclusions here? And they all escaped the fire on a glorious ride along the wondrous, gilded Escape Chute… \ ---
**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, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/73 "2003-09-02T04:07:52Z")
Maybe if the bomb squad cops had left their hoods and other fancy inventions behind they could’ve gotten their more quickly. :wally ---
**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, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/74 "2003-09-02T04:10:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*It don’t wash, **Tuckerfan**. I heard on NPR the robbery was declared via 911, but they didn’t say whether a bomb was mentioned. The guy traveled 1/4 miles away from the bank, no big challenge in navigation. I mean, don’t bomb squads have a response time, or are they pretty much there to collect what’s left in the guy’s pockets? > > And they all escaped the fire on a glorious ride along the wondrous, gilded Escape Chute… \ \*\* Right, so we don’t know who called, what they said, nor if NPR was accurate in reporting that it was a 911 call. Nor do we know where the bomb squad was located, or what they were doing when the call came in. I can’t imagine a place like Erie having a 24/7 bomb squad, or even necessarily a dedicated team (i.e. the officers on the bomb squad might pull patrol duty when they’re not trying to stop the Mad Bomber What Bombs at Midnight), so _again_ it is too soon to tell if the police acted improperly or not. No doubt, the answer will come out in the FBI investigation. ---
**Author:** ![SunTzu2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@SunTzu2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunTzu2U)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/75 "2003-09-02T04:14:25Z")
I really can’t believe the idiocy I’m reading here. The cops are to blame? Please stop hitting yourself in the head with that mallet your brains are falling out! Let’s see cut the blue wire or was it the red wire? I can see some here have watched WAAAY too much TV. Its finally had the effect that we were warned about. Draining IQ. How in the hell would a bomb blanket? help the victim. If you were to know anything about exposives you should know that just placing a fabric between you and the blast is no certain protection from the blast. I’d bet that this was a first for the Erie PD. How many here would have the witts to handle this can of crap? The arresting officers did what they NORMALLY do; cuff the suspect. Whoa, we have a bomb! WTF do we do now? Call the bomb squad! I believe that’s exactly what happened. Clear the area! Keep the stupid onlookers away so they don’t get their heads taken off as well. Keep the bomb in a safe location till the bomb squad gets here. What can we do for the victim? Pray that the bomb doesn’t go off before the squad gets here. Being a hero here would get you the same as it got alot of other heros before DEAD! It confounds me to no end to read the drivel that something else could have been done and we should blame the cops. Take some advice “GET A FREAKIN BRAIN” before you start with your drivel. ---
**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, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/76 "2003-09-02T04:18:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I can’t imagine a place like Erie having a 24/7 bomb squad, or even necessarily a dedicated team (i.e. the officers on the bomb squad might pull patrol duty when they’re not trying to stop the Mad Bomber What Bombs at Midnight) Yes, unconfirmed, but they _do_ have a Certified Rapid Response SWAT and a dedicated FBI Bureau. > [@](#): > > so again it is too soon to tell if the police acted improperly or not. No doubt, the answer will come out in the FBI investigation. Oh sure, but don’t it jes’ make y’all steamed up? [tongue in cheek] Don’t you just sometimes feel like they’re just there to write tickets? [/tongue in cheek] ---
**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, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/77 "2003-09-02T04:23:51Z")
**Fart of War** : Please take a moment to READ the posts before making an ass of yourself. We’ve stumbled WAY past what you’ve surmised. [flute off in distance] Remember my son, “when one sits alongside the brook long enough, the enemy’s effluent sometimes precedes the next battle.” [/flute off in distance] \ ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/78 "2003-09-02T06:25:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > **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.** All of which are going to do jack-all for a bomb **strapped to the guy’s chest** , ignoring the fact that all these “new-fangled inventional-type things” would be in the possession of who? That’s right, the bomb squad. Who would have probably used them, if possible, as soon as they had gotten to the scene. > [@](#): > > \*\* I’d feel better if they’d at least have tried the green wire.\*\* You’d feel happier if it was a dead pizza-delivery guy AND a dead cop? This ain’t the movies, there’s no handy-dandy beeping red LED timer telling you how long you have, and it’s not a simple matter of cutting the right wire with 2 seconds left. The police on the scene could do absolutely jack shit above what they did do. They placed a potentially dangerous suspect with a bomb in a place where nobody else was likely to be injured should the bomb go off, and waited for the bomb squad to arrive. Trying to disarm a bomb that is described by the FBI as being “probably one of the most dangerous bombs to try to defuse,” and with NO experience, is suicidal at best. > [@](#): > > **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?** What, you mean do something novel like call the bomb squad and have them come and disarm the bomb? You mean, exactly like they did? > [@](#): > > **Now his buddy’s dead, again due to the fuckwit cops.** Please explain how his buddy’s death was in any way the fault of “fuckwit cops,” seeing as the cops were never involved in any way with his death. > [@](#): > > **Yes, unconfirmed, but they do have a Certified Rapid Response SWAT and a dedicated FBI Bureau.** Perhaps it might surprise you, but SWAT =! bomb squad. SWAT deals with dangerous suspects and situations, and would still call in the bomb squad to deal with explosives. It’s questionable if they would have been able to get there any faster (Small towns have SWAT units gathered from the overal pool of officers, not a dedicated ready-to-go unit), and would quite likely be lacking in demolitions training. As for the FBI, I doubt they would have anything to offer to help the situation. ---
**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, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/79 "2003-09-02T07:00:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Please explain how his buddy’s death was in any way the fault of “fuckwit cops,” seeing as the cops were never involved in any way with his death. Well, he _did_ dial 911 and the cops they responded. Perhaps it’s different in PA, but out here the cops have an obligation to work a guy over when he calls for medical attention. > [@](#): > > You’d feel happier if it was a dead pizza-delivery guy AND a dead cop? No dead cops for me. I am unhappy they made him sit for at least 15 minutes, at most 30-40, before he went off like an old firecracker. Poo. SWAT has bomb training. I am trying to find out if Erie’s got a dedicated bomb squad, but it’s slow-going. Re the bomb blanket/helmet/shield: I saw the footage. They just stood there and watched him pop. It could’ve been a whole lot worse with the purported “Colombian bomb technology” we know about and have seen in action. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/80 "2003-09-02T07:47:21Z")
I don’t think you’ve got a leg to stand on here, **Mr. B**. I, too, assumed that the story had not mentioned a call for the bomb squad. (I had missed one line that said the bomb squad was on the way). You are assuming that it was 40 minutes from the time the bomb squad was called till the bomb went off. The fact is that we have no idea when the call to the bomb squad came, or it’s relation in time to when the officers at the scene knew there was a bomb involved. It was 40 minutes from the time the victim entered the bank. It could be that the cops didn’t know about the bomb till they pulled the suspect’s car over. That would certainly shave quite a bit off that 40 minutes. I think you may have jumped the gun here a little. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919.md?page=5)