HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania-

Despite already having collected numerous ‘dumb criminal’ stories that I have yet to write about, I still feel myself shying away from them. It seems as though there are about five different types of dumb criminal stories, with slight variations making each of them semi-unique. And haven’t we already heard about all the dumb criminals in the world through traditional media? This particular story, however, I found to be totally unique and the stupidity of this dumb criminal seems unprecedented.

Fifty-six year old John Comparetto had some business to take care of so naturally he went to the restroom and did his thing. As he was exiting the stall an unknown man approached him and pointed a 40-caliber handgun three inches away from his face and demanded money. Not wanting to die, Comparetto complied and handed over his money and the thief took off. So far so good? This is where it gets really interesting.

This idiotic criminal, 19 year old Jerome Blanchett, had no idea who he was messing with. Comparetto was a retired NYPD lieutenant with 26 years of service. Okay, mugging a 56 year-old retired, plain clothed, NYPD lieutenant does not make you a dumb criminal does it? Heck, it could happen to anyone.

The restroom Comparetto was in was in a convention center in Pennsylvania and while entering the convention center the brilliant Mr. Blanchett walked by a BIG poster that read, ‘WELCOME NARCOTICS OFFICERS.’ Comparetto was a guest speaker at a Police Officers Convention, and in the next room there were 300 narcotics officers from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr. Brilliant was immediately arrested as he tried to escape in a taxi. Comparetto said there were 10 officers there to assist him within a split-second.

To put the icing on the cake, when Mr. Brilliant was arraigned a reporter asked him for a comment as he was led out of court, his response, “I’m smooth.” Hey jackass, you’re not smooth, you’re an idiot.

The moral of the story: When attempting to rob someone, if there is a big poster that reads ‘WELCOME NARCOTICS OFFICERS’ it may be best to come back another day.

© 2009 StrangeRush.com

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