Agent: Police did their best for man wearing bomb (Erie pizza delivery robbery bombing)

CNN ^ | Monday, September 1, 2003 Posted: 7:26 PM EDT (2326 GMT) | no byline

[weegee]

Brian Douglas Wells, 46, was killed Thursday when the bomb attached to his neck detonated while he and police were waiting for the bomb squad to arrive.

Police probably could not have saved Wells from the bomb if it was armed with a timing device, FBI special agent Ken McCabe, whose agency is helping in the investigation, said.

[MontanaBeth]

He was handcuffed wasn't he? I can't imagine the police allowing a man wearing a bomb to reach into a pocket and pull out anything. Can you?

[weegee]

There is supposed to be a press release today with photos and a description of the bomb. The FBI site did not have this information online yet though.

It was some sort of collar around his neck that was locked on and reputed to have a timer. The police/FBI/investigators were supposed to cofirm/deny the timer angle today.

[weegee]

I imagine that he tried to tell them what the man looked like and where he was supposed to go after the robbery. I don't know if they listened/took a statement (the CYA policy may have taken precedence). The police may have gotten such details but refrained from releasing the description to the press.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

He was handcuffed. I misread the story and thought that he had detonated the bomb himself.

The police were in a pickle.

1. Was he a real bankrobber using a bomb to get money

2. Was he telling the truth about being kidnapped.

3. Do you cuff him and leave him helpless to remove the bomb.

4. Do you leave his hands free so he can run into a school yard or grab a cop and blow up.

All in all I think the police did a good job making sure no one else got hurt, but I pray for them that they can live with the memory of what happened that day.

I also pray for the delivery guy. I can't imagine his anguish. Bless him.