A white bank robber wearing a mask depicting a black man was able to elude capture because Ohio cops thought they were looking for a black male. The brazen thief robbed four banks before being spotted by an alert police officer.
Conrad Zdzierak, 30, has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated robbery after robbing four banks and a CVS pharmacy on April 9, reports ABC News affiliate WFTS in Tampa.
Detectives say Zdzierak was initially able to elude the cops because of his disguise, an expensive silicon mask called “The Player” valued at around $650.
“The suspect seen in the surveillance photographs and that we were looking for, we believed to be an African-American male. The suspect was actually a male, white, who was wearing an elaborate disguise,” Springdale, Ohio, Police Lt. Michael Mathis told WFTS.
Investigators believe Zdzierak likely removed the mask between the robberies in order to confuse the cops who believed they were looking a black man.
The authorities caught a break when they spotted a Volvo with its interior splattered with red dye from a dye pack slipped into a bag used to hold the stolen money.
Police found Zdzierak hiding in a motel bathroom.
“He wore what I’m calling a ‘Hollywood quality’ mask,” Mathis said. “These things cost $600-$700.” Read More…
Thanks to loyal reader Kimberly for the link!
