Update: Police Charge Man in Robbery
The ATM at BB&T in downtown Southern Pines where alleged robbery took place. Glenn M. Sides
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An Army captain credits her military training for actions that led to the arrest of a man who has been charged with robbing her.
The woman, who is not being identified for publication, was using an ATM at BB&T on South West Broad Street in Southern Pines about 10:21 p.m. Saturday, March 6. She said she was getting money to go to a restaurant.
Southern Pines police incorrectly entered the address of nearby First Bank in its report, which was used in a story in Friday’s edition. BB&T is on the other side of the railroad tracks at 200 SW Broad St.
“I’m in the military,” the woman said in an interview Friday. “I am always aware of my surroundings. I even chose BB&T because it is actually well lit.”
She said she surveyed the area as she approached the ATM, and nobody was around.
“I got $20 (out of the machine), and I heard a car door open, and I see a white male get out,” she said.
She immediately turned away from the ATM, and focused her full attention on the man, who, she said, was wearing a skull cap.
“I looked in his eyes and he starts to pull down his (skull) cap, and I know something is about to happen,” she said.
Thinking quickly, the woman left her card and money in the machine and fled. She said the man chased after her, before eventually giving up. Shee was able to get in her car, drive away and call 911.
“I was pleased how fast police responded,” she said.
After flagging down a police officer, the woman said she was able to point out the man, who was still at the ATM machine. She said one of the men had her bank receipt and her $20 on him when policed approached.
Police arrested Michael Ryan Culbreth, 25, and charged him with common law robbery, larceny and possession of stolen goods.
The victim said she contacted her bank and was told that there were two failed attempts to withdraw money from her account.
“I still haven’t heard from the police about the whereabouts of my ATM card,” she said.
Culbreth appeared before a Moore County magistrate and was jailed under a $100,000 secured bond.
Police advise residents to use ATM machines during daylight hours whenever possible. Residents are also encouraged to go with someone else when using an ATM after hours, to be aware of their surroundings and to find another machine if someone is loitering around the area.
The woman said being aware of her surroundings were key to helping her make the best of a bad predicament.
“It was a bad situation gone right,” the woman said. “But I don’t think the robber was prepared for a woman like me.”
Contact Tom Embrey at (910) 693-284 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.
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Comments
None 3 years, 2 months ago
"Southern Pines police incorrectly entered the address of nearby First Bank in its report, which was used in a story in Friday’s edition. BB&T is on the other side of the railroad tracks at 200 SW Broad St."
I really can't believe Southern Pines Police could do something like filing a misleading report...sןןıɥpuɐs ǝɥʇ ɟo sןɐuoıssǝɟoɹd ǝʇıןǝ ǝɥʇ ǝɹɐ ʎǝɥʇ!
AllNatural 3 years, 2 months ago
It seems like whomever took the call is the one who got confused.. The officers were only going by what was told to them by the dispatcher.
eflat7 3 years, 2 months ago
I don't understand the sarcasm aimed at the SPPD. I have lived here for over 30 years and never had an issue with them. Sounds like somebody has gotten a speeding ticket lately. Somebody call the waaaaambulance.
wixie 3 years, 2 months ago
This story just keeps changing, STRANGE..
ASU88 3 years, 2 months ago
Too bad the lady that was robbed didn't have her conceal carry permit. Maybe she does have her CCP and just could not get a clean shot off without causing injuries to others. This story would have had a better ending if she had been able throw the criminal to the ground and smashed his face into the sidewalk! Criminal probably was a crack-head looking to grab some cash to buy himself some more rocks! I'm glad the lady was not hurt during this ordeal! Law abiding folks...wake up...we do have a drug problem like the rest of the country! You must prepare to defend yourself as well as your family and loved ones. These low life crack heads have no regard for your life...all that want is another "hit". I say let's give them a hit right square between the eyes! Maybe then they willl "see the light before they feel the heat"! Thanks SPPD for your swift response..now I hope the courts can do their part in cleaning up our streets from the druggies! Criminal Justice should be renamed "Victims Justice"! Good Night and be safe!
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@eflat7 ~ "Sounds like somebody has gotten a speeding ticket lately".
As I said on another thread ~ never had a ticket, moving violation, been arrested...Good for you!
@ Allnatural ~ "It seems like whomever took the call is the one who got confused.. The officers were only going by what was told to them by the dispatcher". Aren't those folks at B.B. & T. glad it wasn't an armed robbery? SP - Blue may have gone to Pinehurst....
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@expatriate March 12, 2010 at 8:17 p.m.~ a good laugh on Saturday morning is good for the soul! But then again, the escapades of SP- Blue a.k.a. "Keystone Cops" is good for a laugh anytime.
TooHot 3 years, 2 months ago
This is EXACTLY the reason why my wife (nor even me for that matter) will NEVER use an ATM after dark that isn't a drive-up one.
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@ Flactem, Yes ~ raised in Vass, North of Aberdump...
suzie01 3 years, 2 months ago
Again, Mr. Toda does not know all the facts. The picture does reflect BB&T Bank, however the suspect was not arrested there. He was arrested in a traffic stop in front of First Citizens shortly after the crime occurrred. Oh no! The Southern Pines Police stopped another car, I bet this guy is innocent too! Guess what? The SPPD did respond to the BB&T Bank and did a great job in locating the suspect in a timely manner but no one recognizes that. Of course some are unhappy with themselves and looking for someone else to blame for their problems. Keep up the great work SPPD. We appreciate what you do.
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@ suzie01 ~ as Hubert F. "Chub" Sewell used to say: "All I know is what I read in the paper".
Southern Pines police incorrectly entered the address of nearby First Bank in its report, which was used in a story in Friday’s edition. BB&T is on the other side of the railroad tracks at 200 SW Broad St.
I'm sure Tom Embrey would appreciate your setting the record straight! Was he innocent or did he in-fact committed a crime? Or was it another overzealous training traffic stop at some-else's expense?
"Of course some are unhappy with themselves" I was unaware that I was unhappy with myself, thanks for the insight. I must admit that my ego hasn't reached the level of SP-Blue. With some introspection, when I was given a badge, gun, and a radio - I had a tremendous ego and an elevated level of authority - power over people!
suzie01 3 years, 2 months ago
Toda I guess your power over people and elevated ego cost you your job, as it now seems that you are distraught with law enforcement in general. Evidently you were not very successful, all you have time to do now is complain about something or someone. Maybe one day you will find your niche in life and maybe then you will not have so much idol time to complain. May peace be with you and one day may you be happy.
suzie01 3 years, 2 months ago
@expatriate Lower level, calling names? Who is not focusing on the argument but the person? Is half-wit the argument?
Continue having your fun. This is just too much. Unprofessional communication is never productive.
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@suzie01 ~ Way too many assumptions on your part, and you know what ass-u-me means? Power over the people and ego cost me my job? No. Burnout would be a more appropriate observation. As an investigator and shift Sergent, I was way past the infantile ego complex of self gratification.
"complain about something or someone", like the old adage: if the shoe fits then wear it! Young officers are full of spice and vigor nice tone, and have a tendency to exert their authority in a daunting precocious manner irrespective of Constitutional Rights of an individual. When they use Gustopo tactics to impress their chain-of-command, they are the ones who have crossed the line. For them a simple traffic stop, equates with a major drug bust ~ again, inflated egos.
"Unprofessional communication is never productive". So your unfounded comments regarding a previous profession were not condescending?
By all means, I am a peaceful person, content, and quite happy. I just deplore those in "authority" running rough-shod over citizens who are too intimidated to express their ere with those that have nothing better to do than to screw with someones' day.
@expatriate ~ when they focus on me, they are leaving you alone....I'm sure there are other bloggers who have a grasp on the Queens English other than you, Chris Smithson, and I. It's a matter of not what one says, as opposed to how they communicate their thoughts, and putting those thoughts in writing. Keep up the good work ~ my friend!
wixie 3 years, 2 months ago
I know people tell lies, the bank camera will tell the truth! That may be the most interesting part of this story yet!
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@expatriate (March 13, 2010 at 10:46 p.m.) "Gestapo preferred to hire officers of below average intelligence with low pay"; Interesting summation which holds true with small town police. An A.A.S. degree in Criminal Justice is inadequate when court room testimony involves direct questioning and adherence to preservation of evidence as well as rules of procedure by an attorney with a Juris Doctorate in law. At a minimum, police should have a bachelors' degree with a year of mentoring by senior officers before given a gun, badge and a cruiser. Perhaps better educated LEO's would result in better pay and professionalism.
None 3 years, 2 months ago
Anyone notice that Tom Embreys' article is posted again without threads? Hummm ~ so much for public commentary. There's still Facebook and CNN discussion boards....
wixie 3 years, 2 months ago
@expatriate the truth about this robbery, since the story seems to have changed, oh yeah maybe you forgot what you were commenting on, seems to have gotten off the article. I for one appreciate the truth! And one more time I will say you can count on the camera at the bank to tell what really happened!
poncho 3 years, 2 months ago
Wow, how about if u go to the teller machine to get a few dollars n some woman leaves her card and money? Sure, u will see it and prolly pick it up to see who left their card, and Bamb! Here come the cops n haul u off to jail. If he was going to rob her, why would he chase her down the street, why not just take the card she left? Did u see on TV where the guy in the runaway car is being called a hoax? They say his car is fine. HMMM, u never know what to believe anymore. Back to the teller machine, anyone can set u up, maybe a jealous ex is mad and sees u at the machine and Bamb!
None 3 years, 2 months ago
What?
poncho 3 years, 2 months ago
lol, toda u are so funny! Thanks expatriate, I do agree with ur posts, this guy might be innocent, maybe he was just using the machine. It didn't make sense to still be hanging around the teller machine, if u were a robber. I dunno, toda, u tell us, u were a cop, right? U have more experience than most, did it all make sense to you, or did u find it a little wierd to see the guy hanging around waiting to be caught. I have no clue, but I sure as heck wouldn't be hanging around, I would be long gone with that $20 dollars in my hot little hand. But, just imagine if u were the next guy in line and trying to get some cash out of ur card and along comes SP police arresting you, for no reason. He said, she said, what the heck?
poncho 3 years, 2 months ago
Uh, hold on, how can he be charged with robbing her if she left the money in the machine? Toda, how does that work? If he didn't actually rob her? I have seen cards left at teller machines before, I just ignore them n do my thing and leave. So how can he be charged? She ran way and left her money, how does that make it a robbery? I know, I'm not the brightest candle on the cake, this I know, but, I don't get it.
Yukonjohn 3 years, 2 months ago
I wasn't there, but if this thug had confronted her, it is just a shame that when she dialed 911, it was for them to send the coroner. This needs to stop, and if more law abiding citizens had their CCP, maybe, maybe this would stop!!
hchase 3 years, 2 months ago
"Anyone notice that Tom Embreys' article is posted again without threads? Hummm ~ so much for public commentary." @toda There was no attempt to suppress commentary. The first story contained wrong information, so it was taken down. It was not taken down because of the comments. Hunter Chase Online Editor
None 3 years, 2 months ago
Thank you - OLE, Hunter Chase for qualifying the reason for an other article. It seems the plot continues to thicken with each story and version of what exactly was communicated to The Pilot reporters and the printed story. I wager on the side of Tom Embrey reporting what he recorded. Perhaps SP -Blue will have a meeting of the "minds" so they can produce a believable interpretation of a time-line of events.
@ poncho ~ you may not be the brightest candle on the cake or the sharpest tool in the shed, but I could very well see where SP-Blue could have lost sight of time-lines. I guess the facts depend on which story is being told and by whom. Through trial an error, SP- Blue may figure out who the un-sub was in this major crime event. Keep in mind, robbery at an ATM, or across the street, or down the street, is way above the intellectual level of local LEO's so, maybe, just maybe, they will elicit assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation. It wouldn't surprise me if they arrested the lady who left her card in the machine - it did have her name on it....
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@ expatriate: r u having fun yet?
poncho 3 years, 2 months ago
"“It was a bad situation gone right,” the woman said. “But I don’t think the robber was prepared for a woman like me.” Uhhh, what? She RAN. Duuuh. If she woulds stayed n opened up a big ole canna whop ass, yeah..that woulda been something.
None 3 years, 2 months ago
@expatriate: More fun than CNN discussion boards on FB. If you go on look up Mike Bennett. He's from Canada. Very articulate and knowledgeable. Canadians have healthcare and the information he's provided is nothing compared to what Washington Repubs are miking during their limited appearances.
I think Pilot Staff are fully aware that boards offer much more exposure for advertisers. Gee, a banner ad should be worth about $1,500.00. The more post the better the revenue....Keep up the good work, I see an underground network underway...to oust all of the politically corrupt talking heads....(;-)"
@poncho ~ SP-Blue would probably arrested her for assault!