Young hero aids police We were shown a Rogers Daily News paper from Nov. 7, 1972, (that's what it was called back then ) and on the front page, written by a Donna Spencer, was the headline "Getaway foiled by heroic act" - and do you know what ? The hero of that act was a young 26-year-old carpenter by the name of Dave Bisbee. We want to let everyone know, who were not here at that time, to read how this young man started his life in Rogers and he had only lived here a year when this incident happened.
The story The unquestionable heroic act of a young Rogers man has been recognized as a key element in the speedy capture of a couple accused of robbing Framers and Merchants Bank of some $ 25, 000 Monday.
His name is Dave Bisbee, a 26-year-old carpenter who has been a resident of Rogers for one year.
Bisbee, whose wife is an employee of the drive-in bank, was in the building when the robbery was staged about 11 a.m.
Following the suspects departure from the bank, Bisbee tailed their vehicle to Southgate Shopping Center, a few blocks from the bank, and observed them driving behind the building.
He drove his auto to the opposite end of the lot and proceeded to drive toward the couple's oncoming car.
When they tried to avoid Bisbee, he smashed his car into their vehicle, hopped out of his own vehicle, ran over to their car, reached in and snatched the keys out of their ignition.
It is believed a scuffle occurred between Bisbee and the male suspect before he and his wife managed to get into another vehicle and flee in it.
Bisbee then ran toward the front of the parking lot and spotted a Rogers police car which he ran up to and motioned for the officer to follow the fleeing van.
The officer, Sgt. Bob Casto, already alerted that there had been a bank robbery, followed Bisbee's cue and tailed the van to a point behind Hillcrest Lumber Yard. There the suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot.
Within seconds, more police units converged on the scene and the two had been apprehended.
Rogers Police Chief Jack Cole lauded Bisbee's actions, noting that his courage and willingness to assist in the capture of the suspects renew the hope that not everyone is apathetic in such situations.
Authorities recovered all the money that the couple had in their possession when they were apprehended. The male suspect was allegedly carrying a loaded automatic pistol at the time of the robbery and when he was apprehended by police. The couple, believed to be transients from California, told police they lived in Lowell for a while but they gave no permanent address in the area.
And as Paul Harvey always says "And now you know the rest of the story. "PATT AND ORIN RIBAR Rogers
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online