Man Calls 911 to Report He's Robbing Waynesville, NC Bank

A man insisted on being arrested after he walked into a western North Carolina bank while on the phone with a 911 operator to report that he planned to commit a robbery.

By: Staff Reports | WSPA-TV
Published: July 16, 2009

A North Carolina man called 911 saying he was about to rob a bank. According to police reports, 52-year-old Terrence Joseph Germani called 911 while he was on the way to the Wachovia Bank on Russ Avenue in Waynesville around 2:15p.m. Wednesday. Germani said he was going to rob the bank and that he wanted to go to prison. He also stated that he had no weapons. Once inside the bank, Germani handed a teller a note demanding money.

When an officer approached him Germani stated, "You got me. I'm robbing the bank." Germani also said, "Arrest me. I did it. I robbed the bank. I just handed her the note. The officer reports Germani was sweating heavily, his speech and movement was rapid, and his eyes appeared to be dialated. Once arrested, Germani told invesetigators that he was a danger to himself and other and that he wanted to rob the bank to go to prison. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports Detective Ryan Singleton says the man had quit his job as a sandwich maker and given his possessions to a roommate before going to the bank.

Germani wrote a statement detailing the incident and was taken to the Haywood County Jail where he is being held on a $15,000 secured bond. Germani is scheduled to appear in district court in Waynesville July 29, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.

Below is a transcript of the call:

OPERATOR:"CAN I HELP YOU?"

"Hello my name is Terrance Germani. I have been mentally unstable pretty much all my life. I can't live in this world anymore."

OPERATOR:"WHERE ARE YOU AT SIR?"

"I'm on Russ Avenue. I'm heading for Wachovia Bank. I've got a note, I'm going to rob the bank. I need to go to prison. I need some help, I can't live like this anymore."

OPERATOR:"WHAT ARE YOUR DRIVING SIR?"

"Ma'am I'm walking. I got a black shirt on, brown pants, white tennis shoes and I'm a white male turning right into the Wachovia, walking right past the bridge. Don't try to stop me because I want to go to prison."

OPERATOR:"DO YOU HAVE ANY WEAPONS ON YOU SIR?"

"Course not, I'm not crazy. I'm not really stable, I'm not doing well, but I'm not crazy. I'm not going to get shot. I just want to go to prison." (ends at 57 secs)

(1:10)"Alright, I'm at the front door."

OPERATOR: "WHAT SIR"?

"I'm at the front door."

"No Ma'am, I need to go to prison."