Birnam Wood comes to Manchester, NH

[khaosworks]

Police Make Arrest In Bizarre Manchester Bank Robbery
Suspect Was Dressed As A Tree
POSTED: 6:41 pm EDT July 7, 2007
UPDATED: 12:04 am EDT July 9, 2007

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Manchester police said they arrested 49 year old James Coldwell just before midnight on Saturday.

Investigators said surveillance images showed Coldwell tried to disguise himself as a tree during a robbery attempt. Police said Coldwell used tape to put branches on his body in an effort to hide his identity.

The robbery happened at a Citizens Bank on Elm Street around 9 a.m., when the bank first opened. The suspect demanded cash from a teller and walked out. Witnesses said it happened very fast.

No one was hurt in the incident and no weapon was shown.

A police K-9 unit was brought in to search the area, but the suspect was not located until around 11:30 Saturday night at his home on Lowell Street in Manchester.

Officials said an anonymous tip from a Newsnine viewer who saw the surveillance photos on television helped lead them to Coldwell.

A video is available at the website. I leave the "why didn't the teller twig on" and the "branch office" jokes to you lot.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

I leave the "why didn't the teller twig on" and the "branch office" jokes to you lot.

Why wood you think we'd take you up on that?

[stevemb.livejournal.com]

I guess he knows that we're pining for those old chestnuts.

[etherial.livejournal.com]

I cannot tell a lie. This article should be pulped.

[nelladarren.livejournal.com]

"A police K-9 unit" is a dog, right?! :o)

[zsero.livejournal.com]

AFAIK it's a person with a dog. Or several people with a dog each. Just as a bicycle unit would be one or more people riding bikes; the bikes themselves aren't the unit, they're the tools the unit uses, and dogs are the tools that K-9 units use.

[nelladarren.livejournal.com]

They do have a sense of humour, there... :oD

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the search dogs accidentally peed on the guy instead if identifying him as their quarry.