Knotty Pine Bank Robbed, Robbers Captured

The gang of bank robbers currently known as the "Tri-county bandits" struck again, this time in Knotty Pine. The Citizen's Bank of Knotty Pine was robbed just before noon by what appeared to be the Tri-county Bandits. Knotty Pine Police along with some forest rangers arrived just minutes after the robbery occurred. No one inside the bank was hurt. What was termed "a substantial amount of cash" was taken from the tellers' desks.

Police found the get-away car used in the robbery just east of the downtown area. No tracks were found for another get-away vehicle. Sheriff Cal called ranger headquarters for help in tracking the bandits. With rangers Stumpy Jenkins and Gray Wolf, the staff's expert trackers gone for ranger conferences. Temporary chief Ralph Dawson was not sure the rangers would be much better tracking than police dogs. Henry Scott along with other Big Pine rangers attempted to locate the robbers trail. Henry Scott, Ranger Bill's ward and ranger-in-training, was trained in tracking by both rangers Jenkins and Gray Wolf. Mr. Scott noticed horse tracks not far from the abandoned car. He surmised that horses were the means of escape in this robbery and followed the tracks to an ranch east of town which was for sale.


Mr. Scott then radioed the sheriff's office and ranger headquarters for back-up. Ranger Dawson and his men were the first to arrive. Ranger Dawson and his men were able to arrive silently by riding in on horseback. The rangers surrounded the ranch house. Using a bullhorn, Ranger Dawson called the men to surrender. The gang was so surprised that they gave up without a struggle. The sheriffs were at the scene moments later and took the gang to county jail.

Henry Scott is being hailed as a master tracker. The mayor says he will present Henry with a key to the city in appreciation for his efforts. Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson is scheduled to arrive back in Knotty Pine shortly from a ranger conference. Ranger Bill said in a cell phone interview with the GAZETTE that he is very proud of Henry, and that Henry has learned well from rangers Jenkins and Gray Wolf, his tracking experts.