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twitterRetired Marine holds suspected bank robber for police
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 4:12 p.m.
Bank Robbery
A retired Marine who said he heard a bank robber threaten to shoot a woman Wednesday morning held the man in a choke hold until law enforcement officers arrived.
At about 10 a.m., 59-year-old Gary Mattson went into the Summerlin branch of WaMu/Chase Bank at 9911 W. Charleston Blvd. near Hualapai Avenue.
As a man with cash in both fists headed for the door, Mattson heard the man with the money say, "I have a gun, I will shoot you," to a woman in the bank.
Mattson, who is 6-feet tall and about 200 pounds, said he took two steps toward the man and spun him around, then placed him in a choke hold until the man passed out.
"The money was blowing around the parking lot," Mattson said. "I guess my Marine training, the fight or flight instinct, kicked in. I had to do something. After all, he threatened a woman."
Metro Police officers and FBI agents arrived in moments and took the man into custody, Mattson said.
Mattson, who splits his time between Las Vegas and Chicago, praised the response of law enforcement and said he doesn't consider himself a hero.
The suspected robber didn't have a gun, but was armed with a balpeen hammer and was wearing sunglasses as a disguise, Mattson said.
Special Agent Joseph Dickey of the FBI's Las Vegas branch confirmed the bank robbery, but said the man arrested won't be identified until he is charged. He is expected to appear in federal court Thursday morning and his name and the charges against him will be released, Dickey said.
Discussion: 53 comments so far…
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way to go dude!
Semper Fi thats what im talking about!!! Glad to see citizens step up and take a breath out of crime!
I think he most likely said said "Fight or Flight". Marines do not know 'fright'.
But it is almost Halloween so I understand how the Ms. Manning may have typoed that quote.
it's ashame that liberals hate our armed forces so much. guys like this are awesome.
This is awesome!
OOH RAH!!! "First to Fight" and "Death Before Dishonor", "Once a Marine Always a Marine" "Semper Fidelis". Ever notice military stickers on the back of cars or trucks? BY FAR the round foil Eagle,globe and anchor sticker is all over the place. That's because we are a band of brothers. By the way that Marine is not Retired(there are no retired Marines) he's just not on active duty at this time. "Devil Dogs"
Once a jarhead, always a jarhead.
I hope the gyrene didn't break the guys wrist when he whirled him around for the strangle hold.
Then the perp would be considered limp-wristed.
Kudos to Gomer Pyle
Comment removed by staff.
hey NONUGGETS, you were most likely a draft dodger and the neighborhood wussy. by the way was that you at the ATM acting as lookout and getaway driver for the perp?
Nednogonads, I'd have more respect for you and your hero Obama if you guys had been in the Peace Corps. Remember, the Marine Corps Builds Men and you ain't one. Semper Fi to my fellow Marines.
Wow...stevem and nednougat exemplify the best of the worst...I'm embarrassed and ashamed FOR them, it's so pathetic...and these comments do not 'elevate' this discussion...on the contrary, Mr. Editor...
Thanks, Mr. Mattson...much appreciated.
Hey nednut,You better hope there's someone like Mr. Mattson around you if it comes down to it! Don't worry, I'll thank him for you.
Goodnight "CHESTY" wherever you are.
Another happy ending, thanks to a US Marine!
Semper Fi!!
stevem and nednougat...our local comment trolls.
Anyone know where the ball peen hammer ended up?
Wait, don't answer that....
The perverts in the media will undoubtedly find a way to portray this bank robber as a depressed, lonely, abandoned, destitute man who simply wanted to show the world he was in need of help.
The ex marine will be painted as a malevolent, overaggressive vigilante who is clearly suffering from PTSD and should have let the robber escape to be later apprehended by local law enforcement.
That's if they extend coverage of this story at all.
Kudos to LVS.
nednougat, you nailed the conservative caricature of a liberal -- and it sure got the conservatives all worked up! Pretty funny.
Like I said IdiotWind, the trolls are out and about.
Thank you Gary.
Hey! why don't you two go have a pillow fight.That's if you can find someone to sanction the match.
mikegino, you nail the liberal caricature of a marine. "Nednogonads" was a stroke of genius. Very funny.
This Liberal does not hate our Armed forces even a little bit and thought that was a great story and Kudos to Gary Mattson for a job well done.
However, Scottsdalesun13 said:
"The perverts in the media will undoubtedly find a way to portray this bank robber as a depressed, lonely, abandoned, destitute man who simply wanted to show the world he was in need of help. The ex marine will be painted as a malevolent, overaggressive vigilante who is clearly suffering from PTSD and should have let the robber escape to be later apprehended by local law enforcement.That's if they extend coverage of this story at all."
Give me a recent example of that happening - and "perverts in the media"?? is the LV Sun not "The Media"?
I really question the motives of this supposed hero.
How do you use a ball peen hammer to threaten an employee at a bank? The tellers are behind 2 inch thick wall- high safety bullet proof plexiglass, and I doubt the alleged robber could crawl through the little slot in the glass. Further, the teller could simply step back, and ask the gentleman to leave. No, there's something fishy here, and that's why I think the ex-military guy may need to be grilled as to his motives. Was the supposed robber actually being robbed by the hero as he was exiting the bank? I hope the security cameras help us to determine who the real perp is. I have my questions and doubts...
Nednut, If the robber says he has a gun and threatens the bank, WTF! What are you, some sort of wanna be defense lawyer? What's your problem with the military anyway. Maybe Mattson should have chased the robber out and gave him your purse instead.
Nednut obviously hasn't been to that bank. There is no protective plexi-glass. Bank tellers are at individual kiosks with no form of protection, A robber and use a tube of salami and beat a teller in to giving up money.
I am a retired Army MSG Special Forces it is hard for me to salute you jar head. but it must be done.If I had your address I would be proud to send you my CHALLENGE COIN .
IM an Active Duty Army SSG in Iraq, I salute you Sir. Semper Fi!
Thanks to Gary Mattson...and while I'm at it, Thanks to all the military for you service and sacrifice.
And to Nednougat, I pity you.
"The perverts in the media will undoubtedly find a way to portray this bank robber as a depressed, lonely, abandoned, destitute man who simply wanted to show the world he was in need of help."
Thats probably true. Thanks to Gary Mattson's help the poor guy got his first step in recovery. Who says Marines don't have a heart?
Job well done, Marine!
To EMVANCE and SSGTJeremy, you got my back. you know damn well I got your's. Thanks to ALL our military. We are ALL truly a "Band of Brothers" Semper Fi.
The perp probably figured it was some old fart coming into the bank!!!
LOVE when the tables get turned...
Semper Fi!
Further, the teller could simply step back, and ask the gentleman to leave. No, there's something fishy here, and that's why I think the ex-military guy may need to be grilled as to his motives. Was the supposed robber actually being robbed by the hero as he was exiting the bank? I hope the security cameras help us to determine who the real perp is. I have my questions and doubts...
Oh please.....
People like you make me sick; you a member of the ACLU?????
I'm a liberal, and the son of an ex-marine. 59 years old means he's a Viet Nam vet. There's still fire in the belly. Good job, sir, and thanks for putting that guy in his place after his cowardly tough-guy act with a female.
The suspected robber didn't have a gun, but was armed with a balpeen hammer and was wearing sunglasses as a disguise, Mattson said.
Special Note to Nednonuts:
PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN AND THE ABOVE SENTENCE.
Comprehend this: IT WAS NOT DETERMINED UNTIL AFTER THE PERP WAS ARRESTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A WEAPON.
Up to and including the time the police arrived, it was assumed by the bank teller, the bank patrons and our Marine that this man was ARMED and dangerous.
Please try and comprehend what you read before commenting.
SSGTJeremy
Stay safe!! Our prayers are with you and all the others!!!
Ah roo! Semper Fi! Well Done brother!!
Too bad Gary wasn't around for this breaking story.......
http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1...
hey dana, sign him up!
MARINES KICK AZZ!!
First the retired metro cop catching the purse snatcher and now this? sweeeett..
Way to go! Thank you for your service to our country. My only question is why did this piece of crap live? Now he can talk to a lawyer! Hope he needs surgery to remove the hammer. Enough!
When its too tough for everybody else it's just right for the Marines!
How about a reality television show, Retired Marines versus Perps?
Doo Rah!! Semper Fi !! Well done brother!!
Haha, its not all its cracked up to be Wackadoo, but hand to hand combatives training has its fun points.
Should have put him in a sleeper hold and never wake up.
A ballpeen hammer, sunglasses, and he walks out with the money in his hands??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! This moron deserved to get strangled. Where are all the smart crooks these days?
Liberals depise the military and rant against law enforcement every chance they get, you see it in the LVS all the time. The Majority of the men and women in law enforcement and the military are honorable. Thanks Mr. Mattson.
Another case of old school cool!