Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 2:05pm
What started out to be a typical laid back Saturday afternoon has turned out to be a disaster. A bank robbery has been reported at the First Community Bank on 15S. Main Street. The bank robbery was in progress when all police cars were instructed to immediately race down to the crime scene. Even SWAT was called upon to immediately deploy.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 2:08pm
A warning goes out to all officers that are involved in the bank robbery at 15 S. Main Street today, "Shots have been fired!" The SWAT team has deployed and will arrive on scene within 5 minutes.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 2:20pm
A Courier Delivery man at the First Community Bank was one of many that was locked in the banks vault by 3, maybe 4 bank robbers. The robbers are armed and extremely dangerous as they have shot two people. The bank manager was willing to cooperate and opened a vault door as instructed, in the midst of it all he struggled against the door and they shot him. A women employee also shot maliciously by the robbers for screaming hysterically, and waiving her arms. Neither one of the victims have been reported as dead or alive. Five witness are locked behind the vault door, a couple of them were able to reach 911 operators while the sound of gun shots continue. At what the bullets are directed towards we are uncertain.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 3:00pm
The police have released a confirmation that their department was able to arrive at the crime scene on time in order to trap the robbers inside the bank. The police department's SWAT team did arrive on scene shortly after as back up. The police do believe the robbers to be dead.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 3:15pm
Jimmy, one of the five witnesses that was locked in the vault is in panic mode with the others. The vault is sealed tight with body heat rising the overall room temperature causing distress. The initial call that went out to alert the proper authorities was attributed heroically to the bank manager whom managed to hit a security button prior to being shot. Trapped and feeling helpless the victims are loosing cellular power and desire to speak with loved ones.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 3:30pm
A few minutes after the shooting, ambulances were scene taking two people away. Still no one knows who is left inside the bank and anyone with a uniform will not answer questions. A large crowd is gathered outside and it seems like there are a lot of witnesses.
Johnny Springfield, an employee at Mad Monkey Deli located directly across the street from the First Community Bank, seen three bodies inside the bank before the police cleared out the area. Springfield seen an ambulance take one person away but does not know what happened to them. Springfield says, "I heard shots--two of them, real loud--and I came over to the window and could see from there at least three people in the bank holding shotguns. I stayed low down and just kept peeking up to see what was going on and then the police cars all started arriving. Then a big van showed up and all these SWAT officers in black suits came rushing out of the back. It was like something out of a movie. And then, within minutes, there was more gunfire."
A woman, Angela Parker, was found hysterical, after dropping her husband off at the bank. She simply ran an errand, thinking she would return to pick up her beloved husband and to her surprise returned to utter chaos and police scattered everywhere. Parker has not heard from her husband and the police will not tell her anything. Parker says, "I just want to know what has happened to my husband. I wish someone would just tell me what's going on. I don't know if he's alive or dead."
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 3:45pm
The Community Police Department has released that the vault where the 5 victims are trapped behind is malfunctioning. There is speculation that during a firefight between the robbers and police officers the computerized control panel was damaged. Star Security Systems, the manufacturer of the vault, has dispatched a team of technicians to fix the vault. Unfortunately though due to the unexpected mishap the team will not arrive until around 6p.m. As a result the Community Police Department is desperately seeking any locksmiths or any citizens that may be able to disable the vault's computerized locking mechanism.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 4:15pm
Lots of people found miling about the bank and don't have a clue where their family members are. At approximately 4:10 p.m. though, a police officer addressed the crowd of people looking for the relatives of Chuck Pace, Jenny Locke and Bob Carlyle. A few people came forward looking absolutely horrified not knowing if their loved ones had been killed. Waiting responsively they were brought to a nearby restaurant and lead to a back room.
A witness who exited the bank and was just getting into her car when the robbers entered says, "There were three of them and they were wearing black ski masks. Each one was holding a gun--two of them had shot guns and the other one had a pistol. I heard one of them scream: "Everybody put your hands up!" and then I got out of there as fast as I could and called the police."
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 4:45pm
Star Security Systems (S3) has released that they have dispatched a team of technicians to fix the vault. The team will arrive no later than 6 p.m. and company officials anticipate the vault being opened by 7 p.m. It is true that S3's vaults are air-tight leaving the five victims at risk, but according to Star Security the oxygen should last the remainder of the evening.
Star Security President Marge Jacobson adds words of comfort by stating, "S3 is committed to providing excellent customer service to our customers, no matter how unusual the situation might by. We are confident that all people stuck inside our vault will be returned to their families soon."
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 5:00pm
Matt Cantham, a reporter for the Affiliated Press wrote about the Star Security System filing for bankruptcy after several banks alleging malfunctions with the computerized bank vaults. One plaintiff, Prince George Regional Credit Union of Tallahassee, Fla., alleged that the company failed to act on a very common computer malfunction that prevented credit union customers from being able to access their safety deposit boxes for two weeks last fall. Star has acknowledged that they will fix the problems but it could take several years due to the lengthy line up of banks.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 5:15pm
Another set of people are on the hunt. A police officer addressed the crowd looking for relatives to John Parker, Jimmy Rodriguez, Mandy Straume, Soon Kwon and Sharaf Jarrah. The police are still not being cooperative therefore the names above are spelt according to the pronunciation. Angela Parker, the young lady that spoke with us earlier on, joined with the other relatives and were brought to yet another nearby restaurant.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 5:20pm
Paul Delante, a sports editor for the Community Courier reported that Sharaf Jarrah is possibly a victim in the bank robbery. Jarrah, a 17 year old star quarterback of the Community High School Bulldogs could potentially lead the football team to an undefeated victory this year. There is a possibility that Jarrah could be one of the victims that are locked inside the vault.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 5:50pm
Jennifer Clementime, the Community High School Athletic Director stated that tonight's football game has been cancelled against the Buxton High School Cowboys. Star quarterback, Sharaf jarrah was in fact one of the five people that were stuck inside the banks vault. Omar Jarrah, Sharaf's father says, "My family and I extend our deepest sympathies to the people who were killed in today's bank robbery. We have spoken to our son, Sharaf, and he is doing well, but is eager to be released from the safe."
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 6:00pm
According to a new police statement it was an on-scene commander that made the decision to move in on the robbers after one of them fired a shot out of the bank window at the police. During the intense gunfight, two robbers were killed and the third was mortally wounded, confirming that it was the third robber that was rushed to the Community Valley Hospital in the ambulance earlier on. The other ambulance injury rushed off to the hospital was due to an innocent civilian hiding under a counter during the gunfight. Family members of all five trapped victims; the injured and slain victims; as well as the robbers have been notified. Once the bereaved have time to make notifications within their own families, names will be released. The investigation continues to unravel.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 6:10pm
A sense of relief as the technical team from S3 arrives on sight to administer relief to our 5 brave souls that are still trapped behind the vault door. Four guys in suits, suitcases in hand, and one handy bright yellow tool box to hopefully save the day.
Dak-Ho Kwon, a brother to Soon Kwon whom is one of the people trapped in the vault, says, "I am eager for my brother to be released from the vault. This has been an extremely sad and frightening day and we all just want it to be over."
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 7:00pm
The Community Police Department regrets to report that a third man has died as a result of wounds suffered during the firefight between the robbers and the police. The department is still withholding the name of this individual until family members are notified.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 7:10pm
A brave teller at the bank by the name of Bob Carlyle was the first person to call 911. Unfortunately a cop mistakenly thought he was one of the robbers and shot him. The cop has been placed on leave and there is a pending investigation taking place. The officer who shot Carlyle is not suspected to have gone against police guidelines.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 7:30pm
The Pace family extends a warm statement to our community stating, "The family of Chuck pace wishes to thank the people of our community for the gracious outpouring of support that has been in the wake of Chuck's murder this afternoon at the First Community Bank.
Chuck has been a manager at the bank for 10 years and started working at the bank more than 25 years ago as a teller. At the time of his death, Chuck was trying to help protect the bank's customers and employees."
The Pace families thoughts and prayers are with the other families affected by this horrible crime.
Chuck is survived by a wife, Donna, and two children Lloyd, 23 and Janice, 19. Chuck is going to be a grandfather in three months. He is an avid runner and a lover of mystery fiction who aspired to write his own novel once he retired from banking. The Pace family with miss him greatly and he will always be their hero.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 8:01pm
At a press conference held today the chief of police, Nora Young, spoke. Young confirms that all three robbers had violent criminal records and mug shots are being released. The robbers were: Darrin Hume, 44, Fred Lapidus, 37, and Ben Winslet, 34. It has been confirmed that when the police did arrive on the scene two civilians had already been killed.
Young states that we are still awaiting the vault from being broken into and releasing the five victims. The Civilian who was killed in the gunfight was indeed shot and Young would not mention who was at fault at this time stating, "It is under investigation." On top of that Young confirmed that another investigation is taking place in regards to whether the robbers were working alone or not. Young also assumes that the vault malfunction was due to a bullet striking one of the control panels on one of the outside walls. Right now though her main concern is just getting everyone out safely.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 8:12pm
Red Hernandez, a Community Courier reporter, wrote an article on April 2, 2007. He state that the three men, Darrin Hume, Fred Lapidus, and Ben Winslet were sentenced to state prison in January 2007 for robbery of the Community Diner at 32 North Main Street. The trio wore ski masks just as they did with the First Community Bank and carried knives demanding every one's money. They were actually busted a few days after the crime when their van crashed on the Community Island Bridge. Judge Kristine Hubler sentenced each man to five to 15 years in prison.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 8:30pm
There are concerns about why the three men involved in the Community Diner robbery in January 2007, and now the First Community Bank robbery were released early from their sentencing from state prison the first time. James LaDuke, chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Parole, states, "We try our best to make the right decisions about who should be kept behind bars and who should be let go. Our prisons are overcrowded, so sometimes we let prisoners go before they've reached their minimum sentence. We try our best to understand who is a good risk and who is a bad risk. But we don't have a crystal ball."
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 8:50pm
It has just been reported that the five people locked for hours behind the airtight vault are out, yes they have been released! The crowd is cheering as they stumble out of the bank overwhelmed from such a dreadful experience. The victims were then quickly ushered into the restaurant to reunite with their families that await them.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 9:15pm
After one of the five victims was released, Jimmy, trapped behind the vault for hours shows appreciation to the 911 dispatch for being there for him and comforting him over such a long drawn out process. Jimmy shows his condolences for those that lost a loved one and can't believe that the robbers had to kill people rather than just taking the money. Jimmy has been asked to help the police in reconstructing the murders and hopes he can make sense of it all.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 9:20pm
Soon Kwon, one of the five people who was trapped in the vault was left in shock. She says, "It brings me great job to be released from the dark and miserable vault. I am thankful for the Community City Police Department and especially to those whose lives were sacrificed on this sad day."
Sharaf Jarrah, the high school star quarterback stated, "Today has been an incredibly trying day and I want nothing more than to put it behind me. I'll be ready to play football again next weekend." I'm sure that Both of these two just want to get home to the loving arms of their families.
By Briggs Romeril
Community Courier
Published April 23, 2011 9:35pm
The Community Police Department released that three officers have been placed on paid leave pending the results of an investigation into the shooting death of Bob Carlyle, one of the First National Bank employees. One of the three police officers fired a bullet that stuck Carlyle and he died shortly after. The three police were doing their jobs by firing back at the 3 men that were attempting to rob the bank.
Police Chief Nora Young states, "As police officers we strive to conduct our jobs with the utmost respect to community safety. Young continues, "While it appears as though Mr. Carlyle's death was the result of a tragic accident that occurred in the midst of our officers' efforts to stop three robbers who had already murdered two civilians, it is important that we complete the vital and transparent process of determining what could have prevented this terrible circumstance." The Community Police Department has confirmed that the names of the other victims are still being withheld pending notification family members.
