Story Archive

Blockhead

The clerk at a convenience store in San Diego, Calif., saw two men come in, one of them dressed as Gumby, the green claymation character, who asked for cigarettes. Then Gumby announced, “This is a robbery!” The clerk, figuring it was a gag, replied, “Come on man, don’t waste my time. I have things to do.” But Gumby said he had a gun, and tried to reach for it, but the costume was so bulky he couldn’t get his hand inside to get it, and he fled. The clerk, who didn’t know who Gumby was, didn’t bother calling police, but when his boss saw the video the next day, he did. “Yeah, it’s hilarious to look at it on the video,” said San Diego police Det. Gary Hassen. “But, it is a very serious crime.” Investigators were able to figure out who the two men were and asked them to come in for a chat. Jacob Kiss, 19, who wore the costume, and his friend Jason Giramma, 19, did as they were told, and said it was all a prank, and that Kiss didn’t have a gun. The costume was confiscated as evidence, and the whole file has been forwarded to the district attorney to determine what charges, if any, should be filed. (RC/San Diego Union-Tribune, KGTV San Diego) ...Let’s hope prosecutors are more flexible than Gumby was.