Independence, MO: Police blow up package. Water cannon douses holdup

[Ian David]

Story last updated at 10:51 AM on Saturday, March 10, 2007

Independence police arrested one man and used a water cannon to blow up a suspicious package after a reported holdup at the U.S. Bank on U.S. 24 west of Noland Road late this morning.


After an alarm alerted Independence police to U.S. Bank on U.S. 24 near Main Street and a suspect was in custody, the first several people walked out of the building with their hands and were questioned by police.

The man is 55 years old and from Independence, Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Jeff Lanza said. His name will be released when charges are filed.

"Charges will be filed Monday morning," Lanza said.

The package was not an explosive, but was intended to resemble one, Lanza said.

An alarm company alerted police about 10:30 a.m. to the bank. Lanza said the man used a gun during the hold up.

"He got a hold of a lot of cash," Lanza said.


Police escorted those who remained in the bank away from the building for questioning while other officers kept their guns on the
building.


An Independence Police Special Operations vehicle dropped off two officers who took an armed position on the roof of a business across U.S. 40 Highway from US Bank where an alarm alerted police around 10:30 a.m. Friday. A suspect, who dropped a suspicious package, was taken into custody.


A robot examined the package.

More:
http://www.examiner.net/stories/031007/new_031007019.shtml

[LiberalFighter]

1. Uhmmm A robot examined the package? Where was the package?