Police Burst Into Wrong Home Searching For Bank RobberPOSTED: 5:25 pm EST January 8,
2007 CORAOPOLIS, Pa. -- Authorities in Coraopolis got quite a surprise on Monday when the suspected bank robber they were tailing turned out to be a man on his way home to his wife and granddaughter.Police were following a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle belonging to a man who had just robbed a PNC Bank.But with guns drawn, police burst into the wrong home."I don't mean to be crying and stuff, but the thought of me and my granddaughter coming to the door, and they pulled those rifles out on us," said resident Debbie Jackson.Police followed Jackson's husband home in his white Chrysler thinking he was driving the getaway car.Jackson's husband was returning home from a doctor's appointment.The real robber allegedly received a ride from an elderly handicapped woman."Had a rifle and their guns out at us," said Jackson. "I've been here all my life. I'm 55 years old and ain't done nothing, and you going to pull guns out on me?""So I'm sitting down watching television, my wife is making brownies and about an hour later, here comes the SWAT team here, and there were about six of them out front with assault rifles," said Coraopolis resident Calvin Jackson.The Jackson family said Coraopolis police did offer an apology."We have to take our precautions when we approach any house like that," said Coraopolis police Chief Alan Derusso.Police said the PNC Bank manager chased the alleged robber out of the bank for about a block. Police said the suspect fled before coming across Wanita Bland, 75.Bland needed assistance getting into her van while leaving the post office. She said she had no idea she would receive help from the alleged bank robber."And then I said, 'Will you help me?' and he said, 'What do you need?'" said Bland. "And I said, 'Please shut my door,' and he did, and then he opened my door and got in."Bland said the man didn't seem quite right, and she became nervous as she drove him to his car a few blocks away."I started feeling a little uncomfortable then, so I just prayed," said Bland. "So I went down to the corner."Bland said the alleged robber got into a big, white car, which is why police followed Jackson.Police are still investigating. Related Links: More County NewsGet RSS | E-Mail Alerts Copyright 2007 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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