(IN) Robbery thwarted at Democrat campaign headquarters 04-30-03

Northwest Indiana News: nwitimes.com

Address:http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2003/04/30/news/lake_county/ec81f17f92467eff86256d17007dd58a.prt
Changed:2:03 PM on Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Robbery thwarted at Pabey’s campaign headquarters BY JIM MASTERS Times
Correspondent

EAST CHICAGO — A former police officer shot a man whom he said
threatened to rob him early Tuesday at a mayoral hopeful’s campaign
headquarters.

Jose Vazquez, who decided to stay late at the George Pabey for Mayor
campaign headquarters to watch TV, found himself on the wrong end of a
gun when he answered a knock at the back door at 1913 E. Columbus Drive
at 1 a.m.

Vazquez opened the door and came face to face with a man who was holding
what appeared to be a handgun, telling him it was a robbery, and that he
wanted his wallet, East Chicago Deputy Police Chief Ed Samuels said.
Christian Scott, 18, of 3470 Pennsylvania Ave., East Chicago, walked
into the headquarters’ conference room, where Vazquez said his wallet
was. Instead of picking up a wallet,
Vazquez grabbed his .38-caliber revolver, turned and fired two shots,
striking the man once in the stomach, Samuels said. Vazquez then called
911.

Scott was taken to St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, and he is
believed to be in stable condition, Samuels said. A hospital spokeswoman
said she had no information about his condition.

Pabey, a city councilman, is running against incumbent Mayor Robert A.
Pastrick and former City Judge Lonnie Randolph in the city’s Democratic
primary for mayor.

Pabey said he and several other campaign workers left the headquarters
about 11:30 p.m., but said there are usually people there at all hours
of the night.

On Tuesday morning, Pabey pointed to a rear window that had been pried
open at the frame, believing Scott had first tried to break in.

“Jose told him, ‘Don’t kill me. I’ve got a family,’” Pabey said.

Vazquez was unable to be reached for comment.

Scott has been charged with one count of attempted robbery, a Class B
felony, Samuels said.

Samuels said Vazquez will not be charged in the shooting.

A pellet gun believed to belong to Scott was recovered at the scene
along with personal items, such as coins and a tooth brush, apparently
taken from Vazquez’s unlocked car parked behind the headquarters,
Samuels said.
Pabey said he couldn’t understand why someone would want to rob his
headquarters, as no cash is kept there, although there are computers,
fax machines and a copy machine.