Greta's caller is Tony Lee w/KMPH-TV
single gunman, hold up in south part of building with five hostages.
Man holds four hostage at Exeter bank
By Tracey La Monica
Staff writer
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/60125003
EXETER — A man carrying a briefcase walked into the Exeter branch of Bank of America as it was closing today and held four people hostage.
Police and sheriff’s deputies quickly surrounded the bank, at 100 E. Pine St.
A customer who said she was released because she had a 15-month-old baby with her described the hostage-taker as about 40 years old.
The witness, Margie Riportella of Exeter, said the man was carrying a briefcase but she saw no weapon.
She said the bank manager, a teller and two customers remained inside with the hostage-taker. Another two customers were released.
“He’s got everyone in the middle of the room,” Riportella told reporters. “It was totally weird. He was ‘out there.’ ”
She said she meant that he appeared to be unstable.
Originally published January 25, 2006