3 Banks Robbed During Bush, Kerry Visit
Three Banks Robbed in Davenport, Iowa, As Bush and Kerry Hold Simultaneous Campaign Events
The Associated Press
DAVENPORT, Iowa Aug. 4, 2004 Three banks were robbed while President Bush and Democratic nominee John Kerry were speaking just blocks away from one another Wednesday morning.
The Ralston Credit Union was robbed at 10:45 a.m., shortly after the president began speaking at LeClaire Park in this eastern Iowa town, said Davenport police Capt. David Struckman.
The next robbery, at First National Bank, happened at 11:23 a.m., followed by another at 11:45 a.m. at Southeast National Bank, said Struckman, who also served as the department's liaison to the U.S. Secret Service during the visits from the two political leaders.
Kerry had begun his economic forum at River Center at 10 a.m.
No one was injured in the robberies. Authorities weren't releasing details on what weapons may have been used or how much money was taken.
"I'm sure they were counting on the fact that we were short-handed, but we weren't," said Struckman, adding that the patrol was at normal levels. "The only thing we had to do was pull criminal investigators."
Struckman said authorities had a suspect for the first robbery in custody. He said a description of a suspect for the second robbery doesn't match the first.
Struckman said he doesn't think the robberies are related, but cautioned that the investigation was continuing.
Davenport Police Lt. Don Gano said a package left unattended in downtown Davenport for a half-hour raised concerns it was a bomb, "but it turned out to be nothing."
"As far as I know, everything went OK," he said of the dual visits, promising to release details later. "I don't know if they made any arrests. I don't know if anyone was detained."
Thousands of political supporters attended the two events and officers from the Bettendorf police department, Scott County sheriff's office and Iowa State Patrol, as well as other smaller agencies helped with motorcade traffic.
Three Banks Robbed in Davenport, Iowa, As Bush and Kerry Hold Simultaneous Campaign Events
The Associated Press
DAVENPORT, Iowa Aug. 4, 2004 Three banks were robbed while President Bush and Democratic nominee John Kerry were speaking just blocks away from one another Wednesday morning.
The Ralston Credit Union was robbed at 10:45 a.m., shortly after the president began speaking at LeClaire Park in this eastern Iowa town, said Davenport police Capt. David Struckman.
The next robbery, at First National Bank, happened at 11:23 a.m., followed by another at 11:45 a.m. at Southeast National Bank, said Struckman, who also served as the department's liaison to the U.S. Secret Service during the visits from the two political leaders.
Kerry had begun his economic forum at River Center at 10 a.m.
No one was injured in the robberies. Authorities weren't releasing details on what weapons may have been used or how much money was taken.
"I'm sure they were counting on the fact that we were short-handed, but we weren't," said Struckman, adding that the patrol was at normal levels. "The only thing we had to do was pull criminal investigators."
Struckman said authorities had a suspect for the first robbery in custody. He said a description of a suspect for the second robbery doesn't match the first.
Struckman said he doesn't think the robberies are related, but cautioned that the investigation was continuing.
Davenport Police Lt. Don Gano said a package left unattended in downtown Davenport for a half-hour raised concerns it was a bomb, "but it turned out to be nothing."
"As far as I know, everything went OK," he said of the dual visits, promising to release details later. "I don't know if they made any arrests. I don't know if anyone was detained."
Thousands of political supporters attended the two events and officers from the Bettendorf police department, Scott County sheriff's office and Iowa State Patrol, as well as other smaller agencies helped with motorcade traffic.
