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Serial Robber charged in ''No Guns'' First Merit Robbery PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jeff Garvas   
Thursday, 28 July 2005

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that police have identified and charged a serial bank robber from Baltimore, Maryland who is currently on supervised release after serving time in a federal prison. He is considered dangerous and is still on the loose after robbing a First Merit bank in Worthington on July 20th.

From the story:
    The suspect in a recent bank robbery in Worthington is a serial robber who struck the same location in 1998, authorities say.

    Gary E. Barnett, 40, of Pasadena, Md., was at large last night, the FBI reported.

    Worthington police charged Barnett with a third-degree felony count of robbery in connection with the July 20 heist at First Merit Bank, 2182 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., Franklin County Municipal Court documents show. Barnett was identified through surveillancecamera footage.

    It’s the same bank where a Columbus police SWAT officer shot a robber to death July 11.

It would seem that First Merit is still under the illusion that their discriminatory "no guns" signs are protecting their employees and customers. Unfortunately for them, serial robbers like this one do not see it the same way.

The story goes on to say that this robber is under supervision after being released from federal prison for a string of robberies earlier in his career.
    Barnett is on supervised release from the Baltimore area, investigators said. He likely returned to central Ohio, Trombitas said, because he is familiar with the area.

    "There is a chance he is still here," he said.

    The First Merit robbery is the only one that has been linked to Barnett since his release, Trombitas said.

Could it be that word is spreading throughout the country that some Ohio businesses choose to disarm their employees and customers and deny them their right to self defense while on their premises?