‘Palpatine Bandit’: Portland bank robber sought
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Authorities in Portland are taking advantage of the frenzy around the opening day of the latest Star Wars movie to catch a bad guy of their own.
Police on Friday nicknamed an alleged bank robber the “Palpatine Bandit” because of the dark-colored hoodie he wears during bank hold-ups.
Emperor Sheev Palpatine, also known as the Darth Sidious in the Star Wars franchise, wears a dark and hooded cloak.
The next installment in the movie franchise, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, opens in theaters Friday.
Police departments often give nicknames to bank robbery suspects to help generate tips from the public.
Police say this real-life robber held up a U.S. Bank branch on Thursday but was not armed.
He got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
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Portland Police Bureau news release:
On Thursday December 14, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the report of a bank robbery at the U.S. Bank branch located at 12203 Northeast Glisan Street.
Officers arrived in the area and spoke with employees who told police that the suspect approached the bank teller, displayed a note demanding money, and obtained an undisclosed amount of cash. After obtaining the cash, the suspect left the bank without incident. No weapons were seen or implied during the robbery.
The suspect is described as a white male, 50 to 60 years old, wearing a dark-colored hooded jacket, blue jeans and sunglasses.
Surveillance images from the bank are being released to the public to aid in this investigation.
Robbery detectives have nicknamed the suspect “The Palpatine Bandit” due to the resemblance to Star Wars movie franchise character Emperor Sheev Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious.
Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to contact Detective Brett Hawkinson at 503-823-1080, brett.hawkinson@portlandoregon.gov.
