The streets of Old Town were buzzing last week as word of police activity around several roads intersecting with Fourth Street quickly spread. While I was about a block away from PNC Bank, a call came on my cell phone from my friend Peggy. She'd just heard that "PNC Bank had been robbed." Needing to finish what I set out to do, I proceeded to carry on with my banking business. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the doors were locked, and there was a sign posted saying that they would reopen the following day.
It wasn't long after that, neighbors shared talk of a hostage being held in a home on Prince George Street. Laurel Police blocked roads, homes were surrounded, police were on roof tops and a police tank from Greenbelt was seen on Route 198.
According to Debbie Knox, a longtime employee of the bank, this is how it all unfolded.
Someone "upstairs" at the bank heard several loud bangs. To her they "sounded like gunshots." Instinctively, she looked out the window and saw a cloud of smoke.
Seconds later, she saw a man standing in the alley behind the bank and made eye contact with him. The unidentified man realized he'd been seen, and fled. Out of a preponderance of caution, the police were called. Both PNC and BB&T Bank locked their doors, and a man hunt was on.
The unidentified man remains unknown. The bangs and puffs of smoke were a result of firecrackers being set off. Other than ruffled feathers and frayed nerves, most of us were no worse for the wear. There was some moaning and groaning about overkill on the part of the police seeking a hostage and their captor that didn't exist. Main Street marketer Bill Miles said it best: "The police had no choice but to respond the way they did."
The good news is, while some may have been inconvenienced for a few hours, no one was hurt. As Paul Harvey used to end his broadcasts, "and now you know the rest of the story!"
Former Laurel High School alumna (1974) Pat Reese Farina retired after 37 years with the federal government. She worked for several agencies during her tenure. Pat and her husband, Conrad, now reside in Monrovia. Enjoy retirement, Pat ... you've earned it.
Finally, happy birthday to Warren Tucker, who will have the task of extinguishing 80 candles on his cake Jan. 12. Now living in Gastonia, N.C., Warren makes the trek home every so often to visit with his son, Andy, and other family in Old Town.