Three officers are under investigation concerning the death of First Community Bank employee, Bob Carlyle. The officers are on paid leave until further notice.
Carlyle was hit by friendly fire from one of three police officers involved in the gunfight with gunmen inside the bank.
Carlyle was the bank employee who hid under the bank counter.
"As police officers we strive to conduct our jobs with the utmost respect to community safety," said Police Chief Nora Young. "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 other victims injured in the gun fight have yet to be revealed.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Vault Victims Free!
The civilians trapped inside the vault have been released.
A big cheer came from the crowd outside the bank as the civilians in the vault came stumbling out of the bank.
The vault victims were ushered quickly into the restaurant where their families were awaiting their arrival.
A big cheer came from the crowd outside the bank as the civilians in the vault came stumbling out of the bank.
The vault victims were ushered quickly into the restaurant where their families were awaiting their arrival.
First Community Bank Robbers Revealed
In a press conference held by Community Police Department, Chief of Police Nora Young, the names of the three robbers were revealed.
The three robbers were Darrin Hume, age 44; Fred Lapidus, age 37; and Ben Winslet, age 34. Young said these three men had prior criminal records dealing with issues of violence.
These three men were sent to state prison in April of 2007, found guilty of robbing the The Community Diner at 32 North Main Street. All three men were sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.
It is not known why these men were released early from prison.
"All I can say is that we at the board of pardons and parole try our best to make the right decisions about who should be kept behind bars and who should be let go," said James LaDuke, chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Parole. "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.
Young stated that the department does its best to bring in criminals alive to be tried for their crimes but said, " By the time we arrived on the scene these individuals had already killed two people. These were very bad men and if there is any consolation to what happened today it is that they can no longer hurt anyone."
As of 8 PM the civilians within the bank are still trapped in the vault but the hope of Young is that they will be out in a matter of time.
The police are investigating further into the robbery as to whether the three gunman were working alone and are pursuing all leads concerning the possibility of help by others to the robbers.
The three robbers were Darrin Hume, age 44; Fred Lapidus, age 37; and Ben Winslet, age 34. Young said these three men had prior criminal records dealing with issues of violence.
These three men were sent to state prison in April of 2007, found guilty of robbing the The Community Diner at 32 North Main Street. All three men were sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.
It is not known why these men were released early from prison.
"All I can say is that we at the board of pardons and parole try our best to make the right decisions about who should be kept behind bars and who should be let go," said James LaDuke, chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Parole. "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.
Young stated that the department does its best to bring in criminals alive to be tried for their crimes but said, " By the time we arrived on the scene these individuals had already killed two people. These were very bad men and if there is any consolation to what happened today it is that they can no longer hurt anyone."
As of 8 PM the civilians within the bank are still trapped in the vault but the hope of Young is that they will be out in a matter of time.
The police are investigating further into the robbery as to whether the three gunman were working alone and are pursuing all leads concerning the possibility of help by others to the robbers.
S3 Technicians Arrive at Bank
A techinical team from S3 has arrived to work on the bank vault.
Four men showed up in suits, caring suitcases and headed directly into the bank. One of the men was caring a bright yellow tool box.
We have learned the identity of another person trapped inside the vault. The persons name is Soon Kwon's.
We were able to speak to her brother Dak-Ho Kwon who had this to say:
"I am eager for my sister to be released from the vault. This has been an extremely sad and frightening day and we all just want it to be over."
Four men showed up in suits, caring suitcases and headed directly into the bank. One of the men was caring a bright yellow tool box.
We have learned the identity of another person trapped inside the vault. The persons name is Soon Kwon's.
We were able to speak to her brother Dak-Ho Kwon who had this to say:
"I am eager for my sister to be released from the vault. This has been an extremely sad and frightening day and we all just want it to be over."
Police Take Down Robbers
In a statement released by the police, when SWAT arrived at the scene, the bank robbers had already killed two people inside the bank. It has been confirmed that there were three armed men who entered the bank.
Alice Angelo, one of the witnesses out side the bank, stated that two of the men were caring shotguns and the third was caring a pistol.
One of the robbers fired a shot out the bank window towards officers and one of the commanding officers issued the command to return fire. Police officers killed two of the men and mortally wounded the third. The third man was taken by ambulance to the Community Valley Hospital but died on route.
A civilian that was hiding under one of the counters in the bank was injured during the gunfight and has been transported to Community Valley, The civilian is in stable condition.
The vaults wall-mounted control panel was damaged in the gunfight, which is the cause for the five civilians being trapped inside.
Alice Angelo, one of the witnesses out side the bank, stated that two of the men were caring shotguns and the third was caring a pistol.
One of the robbers fired a shot out the bank window towards officers and one of the commanding officers issued the command to return fire. Police officers killed two of the men and mortally wounded the third. The third man was taken by ambulance to the Community Valley Hospital but died on route.
A civilian that was hiding under one of the counters in the bank was injured during the gunfight and has been transported to Community Valley, The civilian is in stable condition.
The vaults wall-mounted control panel was damaged in the gunfight, which is the cause for the five civilians being trapped inside.
Local High School Football Game Cacelled
Tonight's local high school football game has been canceled.
Local sports reporter Paul Delante said that Jennifer Clementime, the Community High School Athletic Director, told him that the game between the Community Bulldogs and the Buxton High School Cowboys has been canceled. She would not tell Delante why.
It has been learned that the Bulldogs star quarterback, Sharaf Jarrah, is one of the people trapped inside the First Community Bank vault.
"My family and I extend our deepest sympathies to the people who were killed in today's bank robbery," said Omar Jarrah, father of Sharaf. "We have spoken to our son, Sharaf, and he is doing well, but is eager to be released from the safe."
Local sports reporter Paul Delante said that Jennifer Clementime, the Community High School Athletic Director, told him that the game between the Community Bulldogs and the Buxton High School Cowboys has been canceled. She would not tell Delante why.
It has been learned that the Bulldogs star quarterback, Sharaf Jarrah, is one of the people trapped inside the First Community Bank vault.
"My family and I extend our deepest sympathies to the people who were killed in today's bank robbery," said Omar Jarrah, father of Sharaf. "We have spoken to our son, Sharaf, and he is doing well, but is eager to be released from the safe."
Star Security Sytems Release Statement
Star Security Systems (S3) said that the people within the vault, which is air tight, should have enough air to last them through out the evening.
S3 says the vault should be open by 7 PM.
"S3 is committed to providing excellent customer service to our customers, no matter how unusual the situation might be," said company President Marge Jacobsen. "We are confident that all people stuck inside our vault will be returned to their families soon."
No further statements are being issued by S3 at this time.
According to an article written by Matt Cantham of The Affiliated Press on June 9 of 2009, S3 filed for bankruptcy after dealing with court issues brought forward by banks who were reporting malfunctions to their S3 computerized bank vaults.
The article states that credit union customers were unable to access their safety deposit boxes for two weeks and S3 failed to act upon a well known issue of their vault computers malfunctioning.
"Company officials pledged to fix the problems, stated Cantham. "...but the waiting list is hundreds of banks long and Star acknowledged that it could be several years before all the vaults are fixed"
S3 says the vault should be open by 7 PM.
"S3 is committed to providing excellent customer service to our customers, no matter how unusual the situation might be," said company President Marge Jacobsen. "We are confident that all people stuck inside our vault will be returned to their families soon."
No further statements are being issued by S3 at this time.
According to an article written by Matt Cantham of The Affiliated Press on June 9 of 2009, S3 filed for bankruptcy after dealing with court issues brought forward by banks who were reporting malfunctions to their S3 computerized bank vaults.
The article states that credit union customers were unable to access their safety deposit boxes for two weeks and S3 failed to act upon a well known issue of their vault computers malfunctioning.
"Company officials pledged to fix the problems, stated Cantham. "...but the waiting list is hundreds of banks long and Star acknowledged that it could be several years before all the vaults are fixed"
Police Pull Onlookers from Crowd around Bank
Police officers have asked people from the crowd around the bank to come forward in response to being relatives of Chuck Pace, Jenny Locke and Bob Carlyle. No word has been shared as to who these people are and why the police want to talk to their relatives.
Officers have taken the relatives of these three people to the back room of a local restaurant.
Alice Angelo who was just getting in her car after leaving the bank had this to say:
"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."
Many people outside the bank are still looking for their family members.
Officers have taken the relatives of these three people to the back room of a local restaurant.
Alice Angelo who was just getting in her car after leaving the bank had this to say:
"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."
Many people outside the bank are still looking for their family members.
People Stuck in Bank Vault
Jimmy Rodriguez and the other people with him are still locked in the bank vault. The vault is stuffy and hot and people in the vault are starting to panic.
Police have reported that the vault has malfunctioned and say that it may be do to the vaults keypad being damaged in the gun fight between the bank robbers and officers.
Star Security Systems, manufacturers of the bank vault have been contacted and should arrive around 6 PM.
Police are asking any local locksmiths or citizens to provide any help they can in opening the vault.
Police have reported that the vault has malfunctioned and say that it may be do to the vaults keypad being damaged in the gun fight between the bank robbers and officers.
Star Security Systems, manufacturers of the bank vault have been contacted and should arrive around 6 PM.
Police are asking any local locksmiths or citizens to provide any help they can in opening the vault.
Robbery Update
In a statement released by Police, a group of men entered the First Community Bank and attempted to rob it. The Police arrived just in time to trap the men in the bank. Swat arrived shortly after to help with the situation.
A large crowd has gathered around the outside of the bank. According to witnesses outside the bank, ambulances showed up and took at least two people away shortly after the shooting took place.
'"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," said Johnny Springfield, an employee at the Mad Monkey Deli, right across the street from the bank. "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 large crowd has gathered around the outside of the bank. According to witnesses outside the bank, ambulances showed up and took at least two people away shortly after the shooting took place.
'"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," said Johnny Springfield, an employee at the Mad Monkey Deli, right across the street from the bank. "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."
Bank Robbers Fire Shots in Bank
According to Community Courier employee, Jimmy Rodriguez, who is in the First Community Bank at this time has reported that the bank manager and another woman in the bank were shot and could possible be dead.
The bank manager was shot while opening the vault door and the woman was shot while screaming over the manager being shot. It is not known if the two people shot are dead or not.
Rodriguez and four other people are trapped inside the bank vault, having been put in there by the bank robbers. Two of the people in the vault called 911.
Rodriguez said that three, maybe four men came into the bank waiving guns and told everyone in the bank to move to the back.
More shot were heard by Rodriguez while he was on the phone with the Community Courier
The bank manager was shot while opening the vault door and the woman was shot while screaming over the manager being shot. It is not known if the two people shot are dead or not.
Rodriguez and four other people are trapped inside the bank vault, having been put in there by the bank robbers. Two of the people in the vault called 911.
Rodriguez said that three, maybe four men came into the bank waiving guns and told everyone in the bank to move to the back.
More shot were heard by Rodriguez while he was on the phone with the Community Courier
Bank Robbery at First Community Bank
Police Officers have responded to a bank robbery at the First Community Bank at 15th South Main Street in Community. The Swat team has been called to the scene. Gun shots have been reported at the bank.
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