Vacationing Army officer disarms bank robber

WWSB MySuncoast.com ^ | 5/31/11 | Southern Broadcast Corp of Sarasota

[Teflonic]

SARASOTA, Fla. - A bank customer turned hero Tuesday afternoon, when an Army Staff Sergeant on vacation helped sheriff's deputies catch an armed bank robber.

It happened around 2:30pm at the Bank of America on Bee Ridge Road at Beneva Road in Sarasota.

Staff Sergeant Eddie Peoples was at the bank with his children, when a robber walked in waving a gun and demanding money. Peoples and his family quickly took cover until the suspect left.

And that's when Peoples says instinct took over. “Once he walked out of the bank and my children were no longer in jeopardy, I walked out behind him, got in my vehicle, came over where he was parked at, wedged him in…when he got out of the vehicle he put the gun in my face and told me he was going to shoot me. I took the weapon away from him, took the bag of money away from him, put him on the ground, and the deputies showed up,” says Peoples.

Thanks to his heroic actions, deputies were able to arrest the suspect, 34-year-old Matthew Rogers.

Rogers has a long rap sheet, with charges including burglary and auto theft.

Peoples, a Sarasota native, says he was just doing the right thing and that his training in the Army has prepared him to handle anything. “This is an everyday thing for the U.S. Army. I've been deployed 4 times; three to Iraq, once to Kuwait…so I've had my share of getting shot at and everything, so it just doesn't bother me anymore. I just couldn't let him get away with this.”

[TXnMA]

Imbecilic comment...

[packrat35]

It was one guy. I think it was a little unfair…he should have brought a partner

Another money quote.

[Carley]

I saw this man on TV this morning. I think I’m in love.

Wow, he was awesome. It was a joy to hear him describe what happened after he got his kids safely under the furniture and out of harm’s way.

[Teflonic]

Yeah, he is one tough dude!

[Jonty30]

You’re right and I’m sorry. It was an unfair attack.

I just get tired of being labeled a liberal, when I’m simply a Canadian conservative.

Just because I wasn’t born in the deep South makes me no less authentic.

[Rebelbase]

When race baiting comes so naturally it’s a sign there is room for improvement in your character.

[kanawa]

I’m not a neantherdal either.

You're doing a damn good impersonation of one.

[Right Wing Assault]

If he had worked for the bank, they would have fired him.

Job well done Staff Sergeant Peoples!

He’s the peoples’ Peoples.

[Jonty30]

Absolutely.

And those who keep labeling me a liberal certainly use the same improvement.

Or at least, a lack of imagination on their part.

[Tex-Con-Man]

Because it was obvious that he was pissed that there are legal limits of what you can do to criminals and so I figured he simply wanted to ensure some black man paid for the crime of robbing the pharmacist.

The perp was white, genius.

http://www.sarasotasheriff.org/press_detail.asp?r=11-083

And what is your problem with the South?

[sleddogs]

The pharmacist was convicted because he already had the suspect incapacitated with a shot to the head. He went to the back room retrieved a second handgun and emptied it into the suspected robber. That was premeditated murder in my book.

[philled]

It was one guy. I think it was a little unfair…he should have brought a partner Another money quote.

I watched the segment- the perp was definitely outnumbered and outclassed!!

[Jonty30]

I have no problem with the South. Love the area and people.

Would love to visit some day.

However, it seems that some here have a problem with me for just being here.

I’ve never been called a liberal so many times in my life. It’s like Chinese water torture. Being called one, in itself, doesn’t bother me, but when it’s over and over again, very tiresome.

Pretty funny to be called such, when Canada was the only G-7 country to go through the financial crisis as if it didn’t exist.

[paul51]

nice work sarge.

[Repeal The 17th]

“...Were you looking forward to the opportunity of sending a black man to prison?...”
-
Were you looking forward to appearing to be an asshole?

[TXnMA]

Have you watched all three videos? (Four, actually -- including the woman who had to shelter her kids when the "raw deal" popped off shots down a residential street.)

The pharmacist got exactly what he deserved. And a irresponsible gun-user is removed as a threat to the public.

And before you fire up to call me anti-gun -- know that I carry, but do so responsibly.

That pharmacist (and -- to judge by their comments re that incident -- a disgusting number of FReepers) is nothing less than a bloodthirsty menace to society.

The Second Amendment does not protect a right to be judge, jury and executioner.

Grow up.

[Puppage]

LOL!

[Jonty30]

I plead guilty to a second degree insult, where I did not come in with the intent of insulting somebody, but was the result of an emotional response.

[SVTCobra03]

Not to split hairs, but the headline is incorrect. Staff Sergeant Peoples is not an officer.

[Jonty30]

Could he be an mp?