Darwin Smiles...

Kentucky Man Wraps Head in Duct Tape as Disguise for Attempted Robbery

ASHLAND, Ky. — "Laughter might be unexpected in a liquor store where a robbery just occurred.

But that's how employees responded to the "Duct Tape Bandit" who hit Shamrock Liquors in Ashland and fled nearly empty handed.

A man who had his head wrapped in duct tape to conceal his identity walked into the store last Friday, Ashland police said.

Store manager Bill Steele had some duct tape of his own, but his was wrapped around a wooden club that sent the robber fleeing, according to a report by WSAZ-TV in Huntington, W.Va.

Store employee Craig Miller said he chased the man to the parking lot, tackled him and held him in a choke position until police arrived, the station reported. An unidentified customer also helped, police said.

Kasey G. Kazee, 24, of Ashland, was charged with first-degree robbery, according to Ashland Police Sgt. Mark McDowell.

Kazee, in an interview with the TV station, denied he was bandit who robbed two rolls of change from the store.

"I mean, c'mon now," Kazee said, "betcha at any given point in time there's lots of guys walking around with duct taped heads, and they singled me out cause they was looking for a fall guy..."

Kazee also said that he was contemplating a law suit against the makers of Duct Tape due to the lack of warning labels on the product.

"I don't want any of their money," he slurred through broken lips, "but look at me here. Maybe if they could have warned people that this is dangerous to do, me and maybe a lot of other guys too would be saved from getting hurt like this in the future..."