211: March 2008 Archives

A trio of men suspected of being the WWF bandits have been captured by police in Orange County following a bank robbery, officials said.

Here's a snippet from Brian Day's story on the arrests:

The suspects are Gary Edward Caruthers, 50, of Los Angeles, Jay Chandler Flott, 51, of Los Angeles, and Andre Williamson, 50, of Inglewood, police said.

All of the alleged crimes were takeover-style robberies in which the masked suspects brandished shotguns, officials said.

When the crime spree began at banks in Rowland Heights and Industry, we took to calling these guys the Lucha Libre Bandits. The FBI, not realizing the WWF is now the WWE stuck with their moniker.

The arrests come just in time for this weekend's Wrestlemania festivities.where apparently there will be a "Money in the Bank Ladder Match"  No masked wrestlers have entered the event this year though there's still time.

Got this note via email. We do have some updated information on Friday's incident, but as for Saturday, we're still checking. Here's the note:

Hi Frank, any news on the two shootings in Baldwin Park last Thursday and Friday? (March 20th and 21st). Both happened on Barnes ave. I believe the Friday evening shooting was an attempted robbery . Two teens were injured. I been living here all my life and this is the worst gang activity I have ever heard of.

According to ace night cop reporter Brian Day, the Lucha Libre banditos, who the FBI likes to call the WWF Shotgun Bandits, have struck again. This time at a UCB on Colima in Rowland Heights. Friday afternoon to be exact.

No Melina wasn't there, but she's here as a reminder that Wrestlemania is just a few short days away.

This from Brian Day on the night shift:

PASADENA - Two men robbed a business of about $1,500 worth of sunglasses Tuesday after spraying the employee with pepper spray, officials said.

The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m. at the Sunglass Hut, 89 W. Colorado Blvd., said Pasadena police Lt. Jari Faulkner.

Two robbers described as black men in their 20s entered the store and picked up about three "very expensive" pairs of sunglasses, Faulkner said.

They then sprayed the store employee in the face with pepper spray and ran away, she said.

The robbers last were seen running east toward North de Lacey Avenue, Faulkner added.

She said the employee was not hospitalized.

Attention Aaron Proctor:

The tag team duo hitting area banks wearing luchador masks reminescent of Rey Mysterio have now been named by the FBI (they liked our suggestion, but chose to stick with something a little more English sounding).

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the WWF Shotgun Bandits, whom the FBI describes as Black Males, Mid 20s to Late 30s, Robbed in City of Industry and Rowland Heights:

We're not sure why the FBI chose WWF as opposed to WWE, WCW or ECW, but they did.

BTW we're only 23 days away from Wrestlemania. This year it's in Vega$. I've got the Undertaker beating Edge.

 I also like Floyd Mayweather over the Big Show...

Cops and FBI haven't named this guy yet, they dont' even say these two robberies are related...BUT they sure look alike (and there's a pump action shot gun in both pics)

Anyway the consensus in the newsroom is that this guy should be called the Lucha Libre Bandit...we'll stick with it.