"Heretofore, herein, not forthcoming and notwithstanding .... this is not a armed robbery it's an illegal fraudulent conveyance!

Caveman: WTF, I've heard of bank robbers becoming lawyers but lawyers becoming bank robbers?

Wentzville man charged in trooper shooting, bank robbery

DeniseHollingshed@post-dispatch.com
Sunday, September 22, 2013

A Wentzville man was charged Saturday with robbing a bank in Dutzow and shooting a Missouri state trooper during his getaway Friday.

Warren Gladders, 64, was charged in Warren County with first-degree assault against a law enforcement officer, armed criminal action, robbery in the first degree and possession of an illegal firearm — a sawed-off shotgun. Bail has been set at $500,000.

Police said a bulletproof vest saved the trooper. Gladders was shot in both legs.

Gladders had no criminal record except for traffic offenses. He is accused of robbing the First Bank of Dutzow on Friday morning.

A man who answered the door at Gladder’s home Saturday declined to comment, referring all questions to attorney Brad Kessler. Kessler said Gladders remained hospitalized Saturday but said he didn’t know anything about Gladders’ background.

According to several legal websites, though, Gladders received a law degree from Washington University (emphasis ours). Gladders got his undergraduate degree at Colgate University and is a 1967 graduate of John Burroughs School.

Gladders was wounded in a shootout with the trooper near New Melle in St. Charles County. A bullet lodged in the bulletproof vest of the trooper. The 26-year-old trooper, who was not identified, was treated for bruising of the chest.

Gladders drove away on Highway 94 after robbing the bank, police said. When the trooper pulled him over, he shot at the trooper, who returned fire, authorities said.

“He should be fine, maybe a little bruising,” Patrol Sergeant. Al Nothum said of the trooper.

Authorities said Gladders had walked into the bank and pulled out a handgun. Warren County Sheriff Kevin T. Harrison said Gladders told tellers not to put dye packs in the cash, forcing the employees to fan the bills at the counter to make sure.

He then ordered the tellers to go to the bank vault and bring him $100 and $50 bills. He put the money into a duffel bag and ran out of the bank.

“He said if anybody did anything, he would kill everyone in the bank,” Harrison said.

A customer’s wife was waiting in a car outside. She saw the robbery and called for help. Her description of the getaway car and information from another motorist helped authorities spot Gladders, police said.

Denise Hollinshed is a crime reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch