Jun 20, 2008 10:27 pm US/Eastern
Repeat Robber Rips Off Bank While In Custody
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (CBS) ―
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Joe Clardy confessed on June 19, 2008, to robbing a bank while he was in the custody of a bail bondsmen.
CBS
A man who was being transported by his bail bondsman confessed to CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami that not only did he rob banks for a living, but he robbed another bank while in the custody of a bond bailsman in order to pay his own bond.
Hollywood Police arrested Joe Clardy in connection with a rash of bank robberies in both Hollywood and Hallandale Beach, but the story behind the apprehension is something many people would believe could only happen in South Florida. This might be one of those "made in South Florida" stories that you'll never hear elsewhere.
"I don't want to place blame on anything or anyone, just me," said Clardy on camera.
Bail bondsman Manny Perui got Clardy out of jail on Thursday, after he was arrested for allegedly robbing several banks in Pembroke Pines and Hollywood in May. Perui says Clardy asked to stop at a Hollywood bank to get some money and pay him the bail money. Little did Perui know that Clardy was allegedly working a robbery as he waited in his car.
When he got back in Clardy's car, Perui asked to stop at a nearby gas station to buy something. That's when Perui says he got sucker punched and Clardy got away.
According to Hollywood Police, Friday morning a bounty hunter assisted Perui in picking up Clardy, now a fugitive wanted for jumping bond. While in the bail bondsman's car, Clardy asked the bail bond agent to allow him to get some money out of his safe deposit box at a Bank of America, located at 1900 Tyler Street.
The agent didn't realize, however, that while in the bank, Clardy allegedly robbed it, and then got back in the waiting car, which was now considered the getaway vehicle.
Detectives say Clardy had all the money stashed under his clothes from Friday morning's heist when they caught up to him.
"I drove the getaway car, ha ha," Perui told WFOR as he laughed at the whole situation.
Clardy attributes his alleged behavior to a host or family problems and depression.
"It just didn't matter to me, so whatever I did to survive, that's what I did," he said. "I didn't want to hurt nobody; I never used a gun or anything like that. I just went and did it."
Police have identified Clardy as the same man who is accused of robbing a different Bank of America, in South Ocean Drive on Friday, June 13th, and at least three other banks between May 15th and May 28th.
Clardy told WFOR that his wife died 6 years ago and he became depressed. After turning to drugs and losing his job, he began robbing banks for the money.
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