Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Gumby Bandit Could Face Time in the Pokey

7-Eleven surveillance camera footage. Screengrab from KGTV video.

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

A man who dressed up as the claymation hero Gumby and his accomplice could face time in the pokey.Jacob Kiss, 19, and his accomplice PokeyJason Giramma, also 19, turned themselves into police after they were caught on tape demanding cigarettes from a convenience store clerk over the Labor Day weekend.

Dressed in his Gumby costume, Kiss asked the clerk for cigarettes and told the clerk not to waste his time. At one point, he said he had a gun. He seemed to fumbled for a gun, then dropped some loose change and took off. The clerk thought it was a joke, but his boss reviewed the surveillance footage and alerted the authorities that there was an armed Gumby on the loose.

The pair say that the bizarre incident was a prank that crossed the line. Giramma told Fox 5 News over the phone the two were goofing off and didn't try to rob the store. He said they didn't even have a gun — they just wanted some cigarettes.

"He said the clerk blew what happened out of proportion," said Giramma's friend Meaghan Daly. She told Fox 5 News that he was a prankster and carefree.

Kiss and Giramma were questioned for several hours by robbery detectives and released, according to the Chicago Tribune. The case has been forwarded to the District Attorney's Office to determine if charges will be filed.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today