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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Three Army Rangers knock off Tacoma, WA bank |
| 2006-08-14 |
| Edited for brevity. A Canadian man suspected of helping three Fort Lewis [WA] Army Rangers rob a Tacoma bank last week turned himself in to U.S. authorities Sunday afternoon, said Michael Dion, an assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting the case. Tigray Robinson, 20, gave himself up to FBI agents in Washington near the Canadian border. Robinson, the fourth suspect to be arrested in connection with last Monday's robbery, is scheduled to appear today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. A fifth suspect, believed to be Canadian, is still at large. In court documents, an FBI agent said the robbers showed "military-style precision and planning" when they took over a Tacoma branch of Bank of America and stole $54,000. The suspects wore soft body armor and wielded what appeared to be AK-47 assault rifles. Alex Blum, 19; Chad Palmer, 20; and Luke Sommer, 20, three Army Rangers based at Fort Lewis, were arrested and charged with armed bank robbery last week. Palmer and Blum hold the rank of private first class. What is it about BoA that attracts robbers with body armor and AK-47's? Besides the money, I mean... Sommer, who holds the rank of specialist fourth class, is believed by law enforcement to be the ringleader. He was arrested Friday at a store in Peachland, British Columbia, his hometown. Sommer has dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, according to a law-enforcement official. According to charging papers, Blum said Sommer recruited two Canadians to take part in the robbery and paid Blum $10,000 to be the driver. A witness wrote down the license-plate number of the car Blum was driving, which is registered to Blum and his father. Oops--it's always the little details that bite you in the left buttock. |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #9 Whoever these guys were, they were a disgwace to duh wegiment. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-08-14 21:51 |
| #8 They could be assigned to the Regiment, but still not be Rangers. I've got my doubts about this story. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-14 20:06 |
| #7 Rangers should be thrice screened: basic, Airborne School, and Ranger Indoctrination Program. From the names, I would guess three surburban thrill seekers. Not too many gang bangers and punks make it into the Ranger Battalions. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2006-08-14 20:04 |
| #6 Whadya expect with lowered recruitment standards and PC leadership? Gangs, thugs and even skinheads have enlisted. I was in Baghdad and saw American gang graffiti on some of the buildings. Not that these three were gang members prior to the military, but I wouldn't be surprised. Wake up, military. There's a cancer in your midst. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-08-14 19:18 |
| #5 Robs a bank in his own car, what scared he might get grand theft auto. :) |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-08-14 19:17 |
| #4 Article: A witness wrote down the license-plate number of the car Blum was driving, which is registered to Blum and his father. I think it is now clear why Blum was a PFC. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2006-08-14 18:20 |
| #3 What the hell were they thinking? The FBI has a 99.99% capture rate for bank robbers. But then they know that now. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-08-14 18:07 |
| #2 Why do the newspapers hate army rangers? Nevermind, I think I know the answer. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2006-08-14 17:29 |
| #1 Kelly's Heroes Part Deux [the lone obstacle to the sought-after gold is a solitary Tiger tank guarding the bank] Crapgame: Try making a DEAL! Big Joe: What kind of DEAL? Crapgame: A DEAL, deal! Maybe he's a Republican. You know, "Business is business." |
| Posted by: Hupasing Crath3963 2006-08-14 15:51 |