Slush Pile: Silly Robber

2006 Slush Pile

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Silly Robber

2006 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Lowell man held on $10G bail for 2005 convenience-store robbery By LISA REDMOND, Sun Staff

LOWELL -- Long before George Melendez allegedly used a fake bomb to go on a bank-robbing spree in January, store owner Paul Khem told police he had a nasty run-in with the Lowell man.

Police allege that on May 11, Melendez entered Khem's Lowell store and held a knife to another man's neck, saying, "Don't be a hero."

The victim was able to pull away from Melendez, and Khem jumped the counter, leaving the cash register unattended for a moment to try to get help. When he returned he found the cash missing.

When police arrived, they said they found Khem pointing to Melendez, who was getting into a red Chevy Blazer. Melendez allegedly claimed he had just had a fight with Khem and left.

But when Khem told police Melendez had a knife, the officer drew his weapon and ordered Melendez to show his hands. Melendez refused and fled the scene, police said.

Melendez was stopped minutes later and arrested. Police said he had $88 in his pockets. A search of his Blazer revealed an 8-inch knife under the passenger seat, along with a can of pepper spray in the console and a bottle of prescription drugs in the name of Damarias Rodriguez.

In Lowell Superior Court, Melendez, 39, of Lowell, was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail after pleading innocent to charges of armed assault to rob, assault with a dangerous weapon and larceny from a building.

On Jan. 6, Melendez made headlines when he allegedly robbed the MassBank on Broadway Road and left behind a black bag he claimed had a bomb in it. There was no bomb, only a battery charger inside.

He escaped the bank robbery with a noticeable limp.

Melendez allegedly use the same method to rob banks in Lawrence and Salem, N.H. within a two-week period. But Melendez made a mistake that led to his capture. In the black bag he used to rob the Sovereign Bank in Lawrence he left a book that contained his address.

Police tracked the address and got a mug shot from the Lowell police from a past arrest. When he robbed the Citizen's Bank inside the Shaw's supermarket in Salem, N.H. a store security camera captured his image. Police say the mug shot and image were the same.

Prosecutor Meg Streff said the Middlesex District Attorney's Office will seek an indictment against Melendez in the bank robbery case.

Submitted on 03/28/2006

Submitted by: Megan Manning
Reference: Lowell Sun 3/28/06

>> Moderator Scores <<

Sheryl said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
Thanks for taking the time to submit this story, Megan. However, it really would be better suited to dumbcrooks.com, it's not really Darwin Award material.

James said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Thanks, Megan, but as Sheryl said this is a "dumb criminal" story and there's nothing Darwinian therein...!

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2006 Slush Pile

Silly Robber

2006 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

>> The Darwin Awards, by Wendy Northcutt << Link to Fight Evil.

2006 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

>> The Darwin Awards, by Wendy Northcutt <<
Link to Fight Evil.