# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/101 "2003-09-02T15:13:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > \*\*As I said-he was suicidal-rather be dead than caught. \*\* If you know this for sure, you’d better phone the FBI and tell them. They’ll be really interested in how you came by such information. You can let them know at [https://tips.fbi.gov/](https://tips.fbi.gov/) ---
**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, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/102 "2003-09-02T15:32:05Z")
It’s obvious how he knew, isn’t it? He’s not the only one in the thread who thinks ESP is the way to handle these situations! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/103 "2003-09-02T15:42:31Z")
My mistake. In which case go to [www.randi.org](http://www.randi.org) and collect your $1,000,000 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/104 "2003-09-02T16:02:16Z")
[Latest on case with some video of victim](http://www.msnbc.com/news/959687.asp?0cv=CB20) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/105 "2003-09-02T16:07:13Z")
From above link. > [@](#): > > The bomb that killed a pizza deliveryman after a bizarre bank robbery was attached to his neck with a homemade collar containing “four separate locking devices” that prevented him from removing it, authorities said Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/106 "2003-09-02T16:11:45Z")
[This other article](http://pennlive.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1062517740294310.xml) says the picture of the locking device would be on the FBI website [ww.fbi.gov](http://ww.fbi.gov) but I didn’t see anything (obvious) there on the home page or a search of the site on the word “collar”. ---
**Author:** ![Demise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@Demise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demise)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/107 "2003-09-02T16:11:55Z")
Cops have magic keys that open those kind of locking devices. The fact they didn’t use them means they wanted the pizza guy to die. It was a revenge thing. The pizza guy once delived a cold pizza to the Chief of Police’s wife. Hey, it could be true. Just ask Mr. B. ---
**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, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/108 "2003-09-02T16:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*I think has has. > > Looks like he took a page out of **Reeder’s** book and bailed the thread. 😛 \*\* Oooohh. You bait me good. I was sleeping. I think the debate is really kicking. For that, I’m very happy. My greatest problem with all this has been the general lack of outrage at the police’s lack of readiness. This is the Day of the Strap-On Bomb. How many warnings do we need before there’s a call to action? For what are we compromising our rights via USA PATRIOT – Carnivore? Re: OD guy, If a fellow calls 911 himself, then refuses medical help, the cops/parameds out here will take him into custody for a)obstruction or b) proper medical aid. His choice, on the spot. **Monty** : No, I don’t generally dislike cops, I dislike the bureaucratic mentality that pervades The Force, almost uniformly throughout our great land. The plodding footsoldier in the war against depravity, sidestepping justice because his administrative load is simply to onerous. (Sounds like a neat movie trailer, huh?) **Desmo** : So the Feebs think the coppers did a good job? Not exactly a scintillating track record from the Bureau, though. Regarding the newest information: a friend in Europe who’s seen the uncut version says the bomb was dangling off his neck, not attached to his chest. If this is so, then one of my original remedies was in fact, valid. Put the bomb in the bomb tank and close the lid, let the guy take his chances. The fact is there was roughly 40 minutes on the clock from the time he robbed “el banco incommunicado.” A town the size of Erie should be able to motivate a bomb tank in fairly short order – I lived in _Crunchy-crunchy_ Boulder, CO and they got a bomb squad from the mall to the Courthouse in 5 minutes, fer chrissakes. (And I know, because I was there when they evacuated the building.) ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/109 "2003-09-02T16:19:30Z")
There is a situation in Erie that hasn’t been mentioned here. I grew up there, and the fact is that the city is, or was, bisected by many railroad tracks with few alternative routes to get from the north side of town to the south side. Assuming this hasn’t changed in the 25 years since I left (an absurd assumption, but it could happen), this could be an important factor. The police station is downtown, and the location this happened in was on the outskirts of town, It is entirely possible that the vehicle carrying the bomb squad might’ve had to take several detours to get around the train traffic, which can be heavy. This was the first thing I thought of when I heard that squad didn’t get there on time. And I would be very surprised if they have a helicopter, although it isn’t completely out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/110 "2003-09-02T16:19:33Z")
[Here’s a small pic of the collar I found.](http://www.newsnet5.com/news/2449098/detail.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/111 "2003-09-02T16:36:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*Re: OD guy, If a fellow calls 911 himself, then refuses medical help, the cops/parameds out here will take him into custody for a)obstruction or b) proper medical aid. His choice, on the spot. > \*\* I love posters with ESP! Not only does **Mr. B** know the cause of death (which hasn’t been released by the coroner). he also knows who made the call for medical assistance. All the rest of us know is that > [@](#): > > a call was made . Outstanding! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/112 "2003-09-02T16:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*I think the debate is really kicking. For that, I’m very happy. My greatest problem with all this has been the general lack of outrage at the police’s lack of readiness. \*\* Shouldn’t you technically be pissed at the bomb squad’s _lack of readyness_? After all the cops were there 3 minutes after the call. \*\* > [@](#): > > This is the Day of the Strap-On Bomb. How many warnings do we need before there’s a call to action? For what are we compromising our rights via USA PATRIOT – Carnivore?\*\* How many other strap on bombs have we dealt with lately? Only thing remotely close I can think of is Atlanta in _19 fucking 96!_ Let’s spend millions preparing for a contingency that at best has happened 5 times in the last decade. You really are a part of the problem. \*\* > [@](#): > > **Monty** : No, I don’t generally dislike cops, I dislike the bureaucratic mentality that pervades The Force, almost uniformly throughout our great land.\*\* …is pretty funny when followed by… > [@](#): > > \*\*The plodding footsoldier in the war against depravity, sidestepping justice because his administrative load is simply to onerous. (Sounds like a neat movie trailer, huh?) \*\* Nice Brush you got there Picasso. \*\* > [@](#): > > **Desmo** : So the Feebs think the coppers did a good job? Not exactly a scintillating track record from the Bureau, though. \*\* Pick a target and stick with it, the FBI wasn’t even there. \*\* > [@](#): > > Regarding the newest information: a friend in Europe who’s seen the uncut version says the bomb was dangling off his neck, not attached to his chest. \*\* Yeah, well my cousin’s sister who knew this girl in high school said that the bomb was tight around the neck. \*\* > [@](#): > > If this is so, then one of my original remedies was in fact, valid. Put the bomb in the bomb tank and close the lid, let the guy take his chances.\*\* You aren’t even making sense here, the thing was around his fucking neck, how do you protect against that? > [@](#): > > \*\*The fact is there was roughly 40 minutes on the clock from the time he robbed “el banco incommunicado.” A town the size of Erie should be able to motivate a bomb tank in fairly short order \*\* Maybe they were busy, perhaps they needed to go grab their gear, perhaps they had a flat, who the fuck knows? \*\* > [@](#): > > – I lived in _Crunchy-crunchy_ Boulder, CO and they got a bomb squad from the mall to the Courthouse in 5 minutes, fer chrissakes. (And I know, because I was there when they evacuated the building.) \*\* So, because a bomb squad just happened to show up _once_ to a place in 5 minutes, that naturally means that a bomb squad can show up anywhere in the country at anytime of day within 5 minutes. I weep for the future. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/113 "2003-09-02T16:47:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > The fact is there was roughly 40 minutes on the clock from the time he robbed “el banco incommunicado.” A town the size of Erie should be able to motivate a bomb tank in fairly short order – I lived in _Crunchy-crunchy_ Boulder, CO and they got a bomb squad from the mall to the Courthouse in 5 minutes, fer chrissakes. (And I know, because I was there when they evacuated the building.) No, that is not the fact. The **fact** is that there were 40 minutes from when he walked in to the bank to the time the bomb went off, inside which time an awful lot had to happen before the police could have known to send for the bomb squad. Your insistence on this distortion of time is verging on outright dishonesty. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/114 "2003-09-02T16:50:33Z")
I think he is temporally impaired. ---
**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, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/115 "2003-09-02T16:56:15Z")
Well, let’s not rule out stupid. ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/116 "2003-09-02T17:00:42Z")
> [@](#): > > to onerous. …_too_ onerous. Sorry, really just a typo. > [@](#): > > I weep for the future. Me too. But there are plenty of things you can do: make your voice be heard about the horrible state of affairs in this country! I think you should contact your city government and discover their bomb readiness plan. If there is none in place, press them on it! **Tapioca** : Re ESP, I just clicked on the link to the MSNBC article. Sorry I made it seem like this was the _definitive_ cause of death. Not my intention. But the cops should’ve arrested the guy at least, just for bugging them via 911. [quote] _snip_ “An autopsy on the body of 43-year-old Robert Pinetti, conducted on Monday was inconclusive as to the cause of death, but District Attorney Brad Falk said at the news conference Tuesday that preliminary results of toxicology tests showed that Pinetti had methadone and valium-type drugs in his system which could have caused a drug overdose. Pinetti had a history of substance abuse, Falk said.” [quote] **Dead Badger** : I do not verge. He walked into the bank at 2:30. Police pulled him over at 2:33. Bomb went bang at 3:20. Sorry, _37_ minutes, not 40. My bad. **Monty** : not stupid. See below. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/117 "2003-09-02T17:16:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*Me too. But there are plenty of things you can do: make your voice be heard about the horrible state of affairs in this country! \*\* I doing my part, mostly by trying to shed some of the ignorance which some of our more peabrained citizens (read:you) seem to be possessed by. \*\* [/quote] I think you should contact your city government and discover their bomb readiness plan. If there is none in place, press them on it! \*\* [/QUOTE] I think NYC _might_ a bomb readiness plan, I’m not sure but I’ll get back to you on that. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/118 "2003-09-02T17:18:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*Me too. But there are plenty of things you can do: make your voice be heard about the horrible state of affairs in this country! \*\* I doing my part, mostly by trying to shed some of the ignorance which some of our more peabrained citizens (read:you) seem to be possessed by. \*\* > [@](#): > > I think you should contact your city government and discover their bomb readiness plan. If there is none in place, press them on it! > \*\* I think NYC _might_ a bomb readiness plan, I’m not sure but I’ll get back to you on that. ---
**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, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/119 "2003-09-02T17:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I doing my part, mostly by trying to shed some of the ignorance which some of our more peabrained citizens (read:you) seem to be possessed by. Noble, albeit barely intelligible. \ > [@](#): > > I think NYC might a bomb readiness plan, I’m not sure but I’ll get back to you on that. So you can just sit there in your Ivory Tower. The rest of us need to know what’s afoot in our own towns. [glory, glory hallelujiah] It’s time we Americans get up off our duffs and become involved in our own governance! Do your part and lead by your example! [/glory, glory hallelujah] ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919/120 "2003-09-02T17:46:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > **Tapioca** : Re ESP, I just clicked on the link to the MSNBC article. Sorry I made it seem like this was the _definitive_ cause of death. Not my intention. But the cops should’ve arrested the guy at least, just for bugging them via 911. > \*\* And if you’d listened to the FBI conference, they say that paramedics turned up to the scene, not police officers. I don’t know what happened, you don’t know what happened, neither the police nor the FBI know what happened. Why don’t you shut the fuck up? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-explodes-after-being-forced-to-rob-bank-murderer-sought/198919.md?page=7)