Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: gofaster on September 02, 2003, 11:42:13 AM
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Interesting twist on a theme used in "Running Man". At least, I think that was the movie in which Arnold Schwarsenegger is being held in a prison camp and has an explosive collar around his neck. If he goes beyond the blinking beacons, the collar will explode and kill him. Sounds like the culprit here took a page from a film script.
Brutal End
Authorities Probe Bizarre Deaths of Pizza Delivery Men[/i]
E R I E, Pa., Sept. 2— Autopsy results expected to be released today could help investigators begin to unravel whether there was a link between the deaths of two pizza delivery men, including one killed when a bomb strapped to his chest exploded after a bank robbery.
Brian Wells, 46, was killed Thursday after authorities said he robbed a bank, warning the tellers he was a human bomb.
On Sunday, family members found the body of Robert Pinetti, 43, another pizza delivery man who worked with Wells, in his Lawrence Park Township home. Chief Deputy Coroner Korac Timon later declared Pinetti dead and authorities are interested to see if the autopsy results link the two deaths.
Police searched Wells' home overnight, and removed 18 boxes of potential evidence.
The delivery man's landlord described him as "impeccably honest."
Wells allegedly entered a PNC Bank branch in Erie, some time after leaving Mama Mia's Pizza-Ria, where both he and Pinetti worked, to deliver two sausage and pepperoni pies to a rural location along a main road, near a television transmission tower.
Bank employees complied with Wells' demands for money after he allegedly told them that an explosive device was strapped to his neck.
The pizza delivery man was arrested minutes later only a quarter of a mile away and handcuffed. He told police the same story he told those at the bank: that he was wearing a bomb.
Authorities immediately backed away to secure the area while an anguished Wells cried, "Why is nobody trying to get this thing off me? He pulled a key out and started a timer. I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's gonna go off. I don't have a lot of time. I'm not lying."
He wasn't lying, and moments later the device around his neck went off.
Law enforcement officials say they simply did not have time to defuse the bomb safely.
"It's a highly complex procedure," FBI Special Agent Ken McCabe said. "It's not like you see on TV where any police officer can walk up and decide to cut the yellow, green or red wire," he explained.
The FBI is helping local authorities with the investigation and is analyzing pieces of the device, hoping to figure out if Wells made it himself or whether he was set up.
Meanwhile, residents of the sleepy area try to make sense of two bizarre deaths.
The explosion was caught on videotape, but don't expect to see it played on the local news more than once or twice (they'll save that for the special shows the networks run during ratings sweeps). And here's a follow-up to the story
FBI Probes Explosion of Pa. Bank Robber
FBI Releases Photos, Seeks Leads in Case of Pa. Man Killed by Explosive After Robbing Bank[/i]
ERIE, Pa. Sept. 2 —
The FBI on Tuesday released photos of a metal collar found around the neck of a pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank and then was killed when a bomb strapped to his body exploded.
FBI Agent Bob Rudge said the bureau hopes that by releasing the photos of the collar and locking device, someone may come forward to help law enforcement solve the strange case.
Arrested Thursday after a bank robbery, Brian Douglas Wells told authorities someone had forced him to rob the bank. He told officers a bomb was attached to him, but he died when it exploded before the bomb squad could get there.
At a news conference Tuesday, Rudge showed photographs of the triple-banded metal collar he said was around Wells' neck and a lock that kept it in place. The bomb was attached to the collar, authorities said.
Police had surrounded Wells, 46, a short time after he robbed a PNC Bank branch outside Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. Wells had gone to deliver a pizza to a mysterious address in a remote area about an hour before he turned up at the bank with the bomb strapped to his body.
When police stopped Wells, he told them about the bomb and asked why authorities weren't helping to get it off him. Police backed off and were waiting for the bomb squad when the bomb exploded. No one else was injured.
According to police and the FBI, Wells produced an "extensive" robbery note at the bank, which has been sent to handwriting experts. Rudge did not release any additional information about the note Tuesday.
Meanwhile, officials released information from an autopsy on one of Wells' co-workers, Robert Pinetti, 43, who was found dead Sunday at his home in nearby Lawrence Park Township. Authorities do not know if his death is connected with Wells' case.
Pinetti had a history of substance abuse and preliminary testing appeared to show methadone and "valium-type" drugs in his system, authorities said. There was no trauma, officials said.
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Saw this on the news a couple days ago, really sad. The guy was begging the police to get the bomb off of him.
He was sitting in handcuffs in front of a police car as the police took cover about 100 yards away behind another police car. Really sad to see the way he was just sitting alone, helpless and being watched by everyone else, including film crews.
Then the bomb went off.
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Very very sad. I don't understand why it took an hour to get the bomb squad there!
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Originally posted by Chairboy
Very very sad. I don't understand why it took an hour to get the bomb squad there!
long line at dunkin doughnuts
so he tripped the bomb by pulling a key?
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yes we all watch the news.
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Originally posted by Eagler
long line at dunkin doughnuts
so he tripped the bomb by pulling a key?
I'm guessing the perp pulled the key before sending the victim out into the world.
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Originally posted by Chairboy
Very very sad. I don't understand why it took an hour to get the bomb squad there!
Not all police departments have the technical expertise for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. For smaller departments (Erie, Pa - Population Approx. 105,000), they usually relay on mutual aid agreements to provide specialized technical expertise.
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If I had been that guy (and I wasn't somehow connected with the whole scheme) and it became obvious to me that the bomb squad wasn't getting there right away, I would have started working on trying to defuse the bomb myself.
Either sit there and get killed, or try and save yourself and get killed. Get your hands in front of you and do something. If I wasn't nimble enough to get my hands in front of me with the cuffs on, I would have told the cops to throw me the cuff keys or I get up and start walking towards them.
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sick ****e for real :(
got no more to say about it.
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All they had to do was to take the bomb off of him, and throw it in a ditch or something.
Oh well, he was too old to be a pizza delivery man anyways.
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I have a 60 yr old man working for me. Makes pretty good money, but still delivers pizza on the weekends. He rakes in over $100 in tips working part time over 2 nights.
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Originally posted by davidpt40
All they had to do was to take the bomb off of him, and throw it in a ditch or something.
If it was that easy he would have taken it off himself before he got to the bank or requested help when he was in the bank.
We don’t know how it was attached, we don’t even know if his story is true (a victim) or false (bank robber who’s plan went bad).
Time might tell.
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Originally posted by davidpt40
All they had to do was to take the bomb off of him, and throw it in a ditch or something.
Oh well, he was too old to be a pizza delivery man anyways.
You need an infusion of compassion dip****. You're sorrowfully lacking.
Or perhaps reading *is* fundamental. It's comprehension that's the real trick.
The bomb was locked to him via a ring around his neck.
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I live in Erie Pa, and i was there on Peach Street. I saw most of it, but the cops had to pull us back. Pretty horrible to watch, nobody knew he was gonna do it..
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I'm curious about this: "Why is nobody trying to get this thing off me? He pulled a key out and started a timer. I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's gonna go off. I don't have a lot of time. I'm not lying."
He pulled out a key, for what?, and started a timer, on what?
That didn't strike anyone else as odd in the context it was given?
I can't pass any judgement on the situation, it is all very odd - but that one line just seems very odd if he pulled out a key for his neck bomb and started the timer on it, which is how I read it.
-SW
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Originally posted by WldThing
I live in Erie Pa, and i was there on Peach Street. I saw most of it, but the cops had to pull us back. Pretty horrible to watch, nobody knew he was gonna do it..
The evidence is not entirely in. None of the news sites I've been to say the man with the bomb locked around his neck is the bomber, or the one that detonated it.
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"Why is nobody trying to get this thing off me? He pulled a key out and started a timer. I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's gonna go off. I don't have a lot of time. I'm not lying."
This is what the guy with the bomb strapped to him was saying...presumably about the person who strapped the thing to him in the first place. I think he was trying to get the point across that it was armed and was going to blow him to bits if someone didn't get it off of him.
SOB
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Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
I'm curious about this: "Why is nobody trying to get this thing off me? He pulled a key out and started a timer. I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's gonna go off. I don't have a lot of time. I'm not lying."
Thats what we're waiting for. Who is "He".
The pizzaman? Someone who place the bomb on the pizzaman?
Time might tell.
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"Why is nobody trying to get this thing off me? He pulled a key out and started a timer. I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's gonna go off. I don't have a lot of time. I'm not lying."
It's kinda confusing but as I read it, it's all in quotes, as in it is all what the guy was saying. he asked why it's not being removed, then explained that 'he' (whoever that is) pulled the key, started a timer,.....
seems like some of the above posters thought the guy who blew up pulled a key and started the timer, not how I read it.
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Good points Apathy and SOB, thanks for the explanations.
-SW
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Originally posted by SOB
"Why is nobody trying to get this thing off me? He pulled a key out and started a timer. I heard the thing ticking when he did it. It's gonna go off. I don't have a lot of time. I'm not lying."
This is what the guy with the bomb strapped to him was saying...presumably about the person who strapped the thing to him in the first place. I think he was trying to get the point across that it was armed and was going to blow him to bits if someone didn't get it off of him.
SOB
Where did you get this from SOB? I'm not taking you to task, but the journalist/rag needs a spanking for such poor and vague writing:)
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That's just the impression I got after reading the story. I could be way off base, but probably not as I'm rarely wrong about anything. ;)
SOB
-edit- If you were referring to the quote, it was from the article :)
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Originally posted by SOB
That's just the impression I got after reading the story. I could be way off base, but probably not as I'm rarely wrong about anything. ;)
SOB
I'm sure you read it right. I find it sad that I've seen T.V. shows and movies that use this exact plot, and now it comes to full fruition. :(
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Alright Dmdmac, now if this thread turns into a "Ban violent movies" thread, I'm gonna have to smack ya! :p
SOB
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Originally posted by SOB
Alright Dmdmac, now if this thread turns into a "Ban violent movies" thread, I'm gonna have to smack ya! :p
Nah, perk violent movies. Ban the LA7 :)
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Maybe the Pizza man, who went to the "remote location" was abducted when he knocked on the door, he was expecting to exchange the pie for some money and be on his way.
But instead, he was held at gunpoint and forced to wear the bomb. The bomber then told him to go rob a bank, and return with the money in exchange for his life.
Of course I'm just guessing, too wierd.
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You know, it is **** like this that makes me glad I am not a pizza delivery guy.
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Originally posted by WldThing
I live in Erie Pa, and i was there on Peach Street. I saw most of it, but the cops had to pull us back. Pretty horrible to watch, nobody knew he was gonna do it..
did his head blow off?
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Heh, I'm having a blast just going over these posts... what a bunch of twits. Learn reading comprehension before you freekin post.
:D
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You need an infusion of compassion dip****. You're sorrowfully lacking.
Or perhaps reading *is* fundamental. It's comprehension that's the real trick.
The bomb was locked to him via a ring around his neck.
It was a simple pipe bomb attached to a timer and a lock. They should have used some bolt cutters to remove the bomb.
Btw, I truely believe you are mentally ill DmdMac.
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Originally posted by davidpt40
Btw, I truely believe you are mentally ill DmdMac.
:):(:o:D;):p:mad::eek::confused:
We feel better now. Thank you.
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This BBC video should clear up any confusion. You'll see who said what.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39475000/rm/_39475599_pizza19_bryant_vi.ram
yowser
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It was a simple pipe bomb attached to a timer and a lock. They should have used some bolt cutters to remove the bomb.
how did they know it didn't have an anti-tampering trigger? what if it did and they took your great idea and ran with it? they cut it off, kill the man and the cop with the bolt cutters. meanwhile the expert who could have handled it shows up just about the time the peices hit the ground.
they had no idea exactly what they where dealing with. they had no idea how much time they had. the evacuated all who they could from the area and waited for someone who would know what he was doing.
unfortunately the odds didn't play out and the man died, the cops didn't kill him though, who ever put that damn thing around his neck did.
hindsight is 20/20 and it's easy to sit safely behind your screen after the facts have come to light and say what should have happened.
the people who where there made the best decision they could with the info at hand, and live with the consiquences.
to my way of thinking, if you look at the info they had to work with, it's my unexpert opinion that they made the absolute best decision possable in the situation.
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Thats just sick..
Hopefully they catch the whoever did this, since he needs to be fed with some broken glass instead of a pizza.
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how did they know it didn't have an anti-tampering trigger? what if it did and they took your great idea and ran with it? they cut it off, kill the man and the cop with the bolt cutters. meanwhile the expert who could have handled it shows up just about the time the peices hit the ground.
to my way of thinking, if you look at the info they had to work with, it's my unexpert opinion that they made the absolute best decision possable in the situation.
What in the world? You do realize the cops let the guy sit there handcuffed and get his head blown off by a pipe bomb right? The absolute best decision would have been to get some bolt cutters and save the guy's life. Those cops failed. It was their job to protect the citizens in their district.
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Originally posted by davidpt40
What in the world? You do realize the cops let the guy sit there handcuffed and get his head blown off by a pipe bomb right? The absolute best decision would have been to get some bolt cutters and save the guy's life. Those cops failed. It was their job to protect the citizens in their district.
so your saying to put our cops in harms way to save what might be trap? I dont understand why it took 40 minutes for the bomb squad but i sure as toejam wouldnt walk up to a guy with a bomb and say "here let me cut that thing off you".
The cops dont know if its riged to go off when tampered with? The cops didnt know if the guy was with the robers, why die trying to save a thief, Thats what the bomb squad is for.
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I'm just amazed he robed the bank. Usually when you rob a bank the police are there in a heart beat.
Sad if he really is just a pizza guy. but it sounds fishy, i cant wait to hear more about this.
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Originally posted by davidpt40
Btw, I truely believe you are mentally ill DmdMac.
I'll bite, why do you say that? Only because I crititcize you for your callous remark about the dead man's worth? You are low because of it, so I may be mentally ill(though I think not), but you should put yourself in that man's place, than perhaps you wouldn't have made an utter bellybutton of yourself.
I refer you back to your original statement:
]Originally posted by davidpt40
Oh well, he was too old to be a pizza delivery man anyways.
And what, pray tell, is your worth? What do you contribute? What do you do for a living?
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Police have released an edited version of the note the pizza delivery man had:
Bizarre Bank Robbery Case Note Released
FBI Releases Handwritten Note Instructing Pa. Man to Rob Bank As Bomb Hung Around His Neck
The Associated Press
ERIE, Pa. Feb. 10 — The FBI released sections of a nine-page handwritten note found in a car belonging to an Erie pizza deliveryman killed six months ago when a bomb locked around his neck exploded after he robbed a bank.
Investigators released the note in hopes someone recognizes the author from the penmanship or the writer's penchant for obsessiveness.
The note containing instructions to rob the bank and directions to four separate locations was found with Brian Wells when he died Aug. 28 in a parking lot just south of Erie.
Before the bomb exploded, Wells told authorities that he had been forced to rob the bank by someone who locked the collar bomb around his neck. Police surrounded Wells after he robbed a PNC Bank branch in Summit Township and were waiting for a bomb squad to arrive when the device detonated.
In releasing photographs of the note Tuesday, FBI Special Agent Bob Rudge described the author as having an "obsessive quality" in telling the reader what to say, how to behave and what to feel.
The writer probably conceived the plan over some time perhaps years and revenge, not money, may have been the primary motive, Rudge said. He refused to elaborate whether Wells may have been the target of revenge, or another person.
"The overall bank robbery plan as outlined in the letter appear to be unrealistic. Nonetheless, because of the time and effort he invested in this whole scheme constructing the collar bomb and the shotgun and preparing the instruction letter it is not likely he sat at home waiting to learn how events unfolded," Rudge said, suggesting the suspect was in a position to watch what happened.
Despite use of the word "he," Rudge hasn't said the suspect is a male.
"Brian Wells could have known this person but misjudged the dangerousness of the situation," Rudge said.
The note is the first disclosure of evidence in four months, suggesting earlier appeals have yielded little to solve the case.
Investigators in September released photographs of a triple-banded collar with four keyholes and a combination lock on its heavy homemade clasp and a unique cane-shaped firearm found in Wells' car. FBI have said the weapon fired shotgun shells and appeared to be homemade.
FBI agents believe Wells didn't act alone and are leaning toward the theory that Wells was a victim, as he told police. But they haven't entirely ruled out the possibility that he was a willing participant.
You can read the edited version of the notes here (http://abcnews.go.com/media/Flash/images/erienote1.pdf) and here (http://abcnews.go.com/media/Flash/images/erienote2.pdf).
They've blacked out so much of the text that its hard to figure out exactly what the victim was supposed to do. Maybe it will lead to something.
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Seems like destinctive hand writing, and there is even a drawing. Maybe they will catch the bastard.
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Well, if they do find him i think they should ignore the cruel and unusual punishment amendment.
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so does this mean he did it alone?
I saw the after pictures of the collar..that thing is nasty..:(
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Originally posted by Ozark
If it was that easy he would have taken it off himself before he got to the bank or requested help when he was in the bank.
We don’t know how it was attached, we don’t even know if his story is true (a victim) or false (bank robber who’s plan went bad).
Time might tell.
Time did tell. He was in on the plot himself.
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It seems to me the plot worked rather well. The device functioned and only a participant in the crime was hurt. Assuming of course that the information newly released is correct.
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Wow. If he was in on the plot himself, why did he let the bomb go off?
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Maybe he didn't realize it _would_ actually be used.
Supposition:
"Why does the bomb need to be real? That freaks me out."
"We need to make this a real bomb so that if anything goes wrong, you have plausible deniability and can be seen as a victim. They'll take it apart, so if we try to fake anything, it'd be your neck on the line."
"Well, ok, but this is seriously scary."
"Trust me."
Later, at the site, the person with the trigger watches, growing more and more nervous. Thinking to herself:
"What if he cracks? I could go to jail! Oh god, what if there are fingerprints we missed on the thing? This is bad, this is bad. I.... have one chance protect myself. Once they get that bomb off of him, I lose any options. I can control this by pressing the button now. (click)"
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Dang, if someone told me to put a bomb around me neck, I'd use me own bomb, and not have an external detonator on it. It wouldn't have any way of going off, but would look like it could...
By your supposition: Probably his last thought when he heard it going off: "That *****!!!"