Alleged bandit tries to kill self

Ex-firefighter makes effort after arrest in Green Goblin thefts

By Lewis Kendall
lkendall@newsobserver.com

DURHAM A Durham firefighter charged with robbing eight stores in the last six weeks tried to kill himself in the Durham County jail Wednesday, the Sheriffs Office said. Damon Antonio Quick, 35, was discovered in his cell by a deten-

tion officer conducting security checks at about 1:42 p.m. Detention officers and jail medical staff immediately began first aid while waiting for EMS to arrive, officials said. He was taken to an unnamed hospital, where his condition was unknown. Quick, whose salary was $40,428, had worked for the Fire Department since 2003. He was fired Wednesday after he was arrested Tuesday night on 43 charges connected to the robberies and jailed under $9 million bail.

It was a very quick operation, said Judson Leamon, a West Main Street Dominos Pizza manager whose store was held up last month. He came in the store and held everyone at gunpoint, Leamon Quick said. All you could see was his hand; everything else was covered. In all cases, the robber wore a Green Goblin style mask, dark

clothing and a hoodie and had a gun. Many of the robberies occurred around closing time for the businesses. L e a m o n , w h o s e s t o re wa s robbed around 10 p.m., said the robber was wearing all black, as well as his trademark mask. The intruder ordered the four employees to the back of the store and proceeded to take about $100 from the registers. The holdup took about a minute, Leamon said.
SEE BANDIT, PAGE 7B

BANDIT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

There were no customers in the West Main Street store at the time. It was almost like he had been watching us, Leamon said. The store has since added more lights and cameras and will temporarily close one hour early. Quick is also a suspect in the theft of about $1,200 from individual firefighters, officials said at a news conference Wednesday morning. This is not representative of our department, Fire Chief Bruce Pagan Jr. said. We have a department who prides itself on being honest and carrying out our duty with pride and integrity. I dont want the public to think this is a widespread situation. Quick resisted arrest Tuesday night and suffered minor injuries, said Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez Sr., who did not elaborate. His police mug shot shows him with a

swollen eyelid. He is charged with: m 19 counts of second-degree kidnapping. m 11 counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. m 2 counts of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon. m 7 counts of assault by pointing a gun. m 2 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. m 2 counts of communicating threats. The arrest Tuesday at the Dollar Tree, at 3823 Guess Road, followed a long-term investigation by the Police Department, the Durham County Sheriffs Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The other robberies occurred: m May 8 at GameStop, 1804 North Pointe Drive. A man took cash from the business and robbed employees of wallets and phones. m May 12 at Family Dollar, 1518

Crime Stoppers
Anyone with additional information about these robberies or other robberies is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.

S. Miami Blvd. (in Durham County). A man took cash from the business and wallets and phones from employees. m May 17 at Dollar General, 101 Ganyard Farm Way. A man took cash from the business and robbed employees. m May 22 at Family Dollar, 2110 N. Roxboro St. A man approached an employee who was emptying trash in the parking lot and then tried unsuccessfully to enter the business, which had been locked. The suspect fled without taking

anything. m May 23 at Dominos, 1209 W. Main St. A man took cash from the business and an employee. m May 23 at Captain Ds restaurant, 4300 N. Roxboro Road. A man approached an employee who was taking out the trash and forced him back inside the business at gunpoint. The robber fled with cash. m June 1 at Dollar Tree, 1515 North Pointe Drive. A man wearing a mask entered the business around 10 p.m., took cash and fled. Quick had some minor disciplinary problems in the Fire Department, Pagan said but did not specify. He was very knowledgeable, well-liked by coworkers and easy to get along with, Pagan said. The Green Goblin character is an amoral industrialist and the father of Peter Parkers best friend in the Spider-Man comic books and movies.
Kendall: 919-932-8760