It’s never too late… to rob a bank?
A 77-year-old man in Florida apparently trying to make a getaway while pushing a walker was arrested in connection with an alleged bank robbery.
Responding police officers even had to use a Taser on the suspect to take him into custody.
The man, identified in multiple news accounts as Russell Cooper, reportedly got agitated when bank employees informed that he couldn’t withdraw any cash from his account because it was closed for lack of funds. He allegedly pulled out a pocket knife on the branch manager and “demanded to be escorted to a teller to get money. Cooper got the $130 he demanded but kept the knife pointed at the manager, telling the manager was a going to be his hostage. The manager said Cooper forced him outside. But police were already arriving and the manager was able to escape.” The suspect reportedly threatened to slit the manager’s throat.
The incident occurred at PNC Bank in Boynton Beach, Fla. See embed below.
The first cop who arrived on the scene outside of the bank ordered the suspect to drop the knife, but the man allegedly declared that “I’m not dropping it, I’m going to stick it in your f—— gut. I’m going to stab you if you don’t shoot me.”
A second officer approached the uncooperative suspect from behind and used a stun gun to subdue him.
Officers took the man to Palm Beach County jail on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping . Bail was set at $20,000.
The suspect’s son, Matthew Cooper, said that he was in a state of shock over the whole incident, adding that “It’s a total misunderstanding. My father is a law-abiding person who has never had an issue with the criminal justice system… He’s a very caring loving person who has had a very turbulent last few years with the death of his wife and people taking advantage of his good will. But he’s no criminal.”