Phony heist doesn�t fool police - January 15, 2004

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2004-09-23

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68 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, September 22, 2004   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery   SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion - Politics   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   How To Guide   Wellness Connection   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Rogue Valley's Finest   EXTRA   Newspaper in Education   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad  eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities   Entertainment   Publications   Recreation   Calendar   CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit   Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 15, 2004 Phony heist doesn’t fool police By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Two Medford men face theft charges for what police say was a fake robbery at a Medford sports bar over the weekend. An employee of Time Out sports bar on Stewart Avenue reported to Medford police at 11 p.m. Saturday that a masked man entered the bar, threatened violence and took an undisclosed amount of money. Investigators looking into the reported robbery became suspicious about the interaction they saw between the robber and employee on a surveillance video, Medford police Lt. Tim George said. The investigation revealed that the crime was "not a robbery, but a theft," he said. "This was a couple of fellas thinking they were slick, but they got caught," he said. Advertisement Police arrested Frank Robert Walker, 36, of the 2700 block of Lone Pine Road, Medford, Tuesday night on charges of first-degree theft, possession of amphetamines and initiating a false police report. He was lodged in Jackson County Jail on $11,000 bail. Wednesday, police cited and released a Time Out employee, Bradley Ross Beale, 23, of the 1500 block of South Peach Street, Medford, on a first-degree theft charge. Detectives said Walker posed as the robber in Saturday’s scheme. He is seen on the bar’s surveillance video entering the bar with a stocking cap pulled low and a neck warmer pulled up to cover the lower part of his face, George said. "It went off like a Broadway play," George said of the staged robbery caught on tape. "But there will be no Oscar or Tony for best supporting actor in a drama." Beale seemed too cooperative on the tape and his behavior before, during and after the robbery seemed suspicious to investigators, George said. Detectives interviewed him several times since Saturday and cited him Wednesday at the police station after an interview. Police went to Walker’s home Tuesday night around 7:30 p.m. to arrest him, George said. He agreed to let officers search his home and they recovered some of the stolen money. A Jackson County grand jury will review the case and additional charges might be filed, George said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives  |  Site Map   E Southern Oregon  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback   ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities