Opinion ID: 774000
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bank Robbery

Text: 3 On April 14, 1996, at approximately 8:10 a.m., Patricia Settle (Settle), the Vice President of the Home Savings of America branch in Bakersfield, California, arrived at work. While Settle was conducting a walk around of the bank, a royal blue van approached behind her. A man, later identified as Jordan, dressed in a security uniform got out of the van and told Settle, Look down. Don't look up! Settle did not observe a firearm, but noticed that Jordan carried a walkie talkie radio. 4 Jordan and Settle entered the bank. Jordan then learned from Settle that she needed another employee to open the vault and safe. Jordan used his walkie talkie to ask an accomplice to come inside the bank. Once other employees arrived, Jordan ordered them to sit at desks in the middle of the bank. Jordan instructed Settle and an unidentified employee to empty the contents of the safe and the ATM machine into two plastic bags. Next, Jordan told his accomplice to put everyone inside the vault. The employees were escorted to the vault, placed inside, and the door was closed but not locked. After a few seconds, Settle used the telephone inside the vault to call the police. The bank suffered a loss of approximately $50,969. 5 Most individuals present at the robbery gave statements to police. Settle and Harris, a bank employee, said that they did not observe a firearm in Jordan's possession. Employees Tokash, Gough, and Wiggens did not mention observing a gun. Employee Carpenter said that Jordan had his right hand concealed in his jacket and that she believed a weapon may have been concealed. However, Carpenter also said that she avoided looking at the suspects and did not believe she could identify either one if seen again. Graham, a high school student in training, said that she could not remember specifically, but thought that Jordan had a gun or a knife strapped to his right hip. Sarkiassian, a customer, said that she saw the butt of a gun protruding from Jordan's right hand.