Ismael Estrada
AC360° Producer
It sounds like the beginning of an old joke. But if Nicholas Sheley was trying to hide from the cops, the joke was on him.
Bindy's bar in Granite City, IL, is well known here among none other than cops. Granite City police tell us that it's a known hangout for local law enforcement. Officers have gatherings, retirement parties and watch the game on television there.
So when Sheley walked in, all it took was a phone call and cops knew exactly where to go.
"He walked in and ordered a glass of water," said Bindy's bar owner, Bill Watson, who added that patrons in the bar had just finished watching local news casts where Sheley's mug shot was plastered all over the screen.
Watson said he was watching over his bar along with a bartender and 2 patrons when the man wanted for questioning in eight murders in Illinois and Missouri ordered his drink and walked into the bathroom.
"He returned from the bathroom and he wanted a cigarette and he asked me to borrow a lighter." Watson said the bartender had already called the police when Sheley was advised that he'd have to smoke his cigarette outside due to a new smoking ban in Illinois.
"He walked outside and within 30 seconds the police were there."
It was the end of the man hunt for the suspect in brutal murders over the past few days. Watson said he felt good about the arrest and their tip to the police. They were all joking around and enjoying the fact that of all places, Shelley chose a cop hangout when the bar phone rang.
It was a victim’s family member who tearfully thanked Watson for calling in the tip and getting Sheley off the streets.
"It was right at that moment when I realized the seriousness of what had happened. It really hit home."
| Cindy |
July 2nd, 2008 4:09 pm ET Who in their right mind would go into a very public place like a bar when they are wanted for murdering 8 people!? Seems to me like you'd be in hiding or getting the heck out of dodge! So OK I guess he isn't in his right mind seeing as he killed people huh!? LOL Cindy...Ga. |
|
| Jolene |
July 2nd, 2008 4:40 pm ET I can't imagine seeing a mug shot of a guy, seeing him in your bar and then having the composure to direct him outside for a smoke. I'd be weak in the knees and scared silly. Kudos to Watson and his bar staff for saving the day. The more I read about this guy, the more I wonder how much his drug addiction had to do with why and how he committed these murders. It should be an interesting case to follow. Thanks for the updates. Jolene, St. Joseph, MI |
|
| Victor in Saanich, B.C. Canada |
July 2nd, 2008 4:42 pm ET He was thirsty and then needed to use the washroom!! :] |
|
| Michelle, Spring Valley,CA |
July 2nd, 2008 5:19 pm ET Going to a bar got him behind bars? Wow. Pretty ironic. But, at least now the families can at least try to get some justice now that he's behind bars. |
|
| Alex |
July 2nd, 2008 6:02 pm ET Sounds like somethging out of a movie I saw.....dumb bad guy walks into a bar filled with off duty cops, pulls a gun and announces a robbery. When he looked around, he saw 50 barrels pointed at him. As you can imagine, those "barrels" weren't exactly filled with beer. Thank goodness crooks like this idiot aren't generally too smart. |
|
| Mary H - St. Louis, MO |
July 2nd, 2008 6:17 pm ET All I can say is.... I am so glad they caught him. There were e-mails flying around telling everyone to be extremely cautious and I can speak for several here in St. Louis that it had us making sure our doors were locked and we were looking behind our shoulders for a few hours... I'm also very glad no one else got hurt or killed. |
|
| Kathy Waters |
July 2nd, 2008 8:40 pm ET I'm glad the public is so willing to assist the police to capture this killer. The police are our protectors and the only people that don't respect the police are the criminals. |
|
|
Comments have been closed for this article |
||
A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper, the AC360° staff and a network of contributors. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.
We search the news each day to show you what’s on our radar and what we’re planning for the show each night.
For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.
Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.
- Real-life effects of reform getting lost in the noise
- Evening Buzz: Buying Health Care Reform Votes
- Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 12/21/09
- U.S. soldiers in Iraq could face courts-martial for getting pregnant
- FAQs about health care reform
- Interactive: Brittany Murphy’s acting career
- Senate health care reform bill
- House health care reform bill
- Interactive: The top 10 Health-Care-Reform Players
- Video: Child custody battle continues
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2005
