Cops: Robber Carried Bag With Dollar Sign

APRIL 10--When David Eli Lingafelter was arrested Wednesday for the robbery of a Subway restaurant in Olympia, Washington, he was carrying a white canvas bag with a large, handwritten dollar sign on it, police report.

The bag--not unlike those seen in the hands of crooks in comics and cartoons--was tied to the front of Lingafelter’s pants when police nabbed the 20-year-old shortly after the sandwich shop heist.

Police allege that Lingafelter entered the Subway wearing a white hat and a red bandana over his face, adding that he “reached into his pocket as if he had a weapon.” After directing a female employee to open the cash register and place her hands on her head, Lingafelter swiped $100 and the worker’s cell phone.

While committing the robbery, Lingafelter warned the Subway employee not to “do anything funny,” police reported.

Lingafelter was later apprehended hiding behind a dumpster at a nearby shopping center. A police search of the suspect turned up a knife, $100 in cash, and a phone matching the description of the one stolen from the Subway worker.

Additionally, investigators noted, Lingafelter “also had a white canvas bag tied to the front of his pants that had a dollar sign printed on it.” As seen above, police photographed Lingafelter with the bag at his waist (and also took a closeup shot of the item).

Lingafelter was booked on robbery and obstruction charges. He is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. (1 page)