By Gregory Childress
The Herald-Sun
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A Durham firefighter, who police are calling the “Green Goblin” because he allegedly committed a string of robberies wearing a mask similar to that of a villain in the Spider Man comics, tried to hang himself Tuesday afternoon while in the Durham County Jail.
Damon Quick, 35, a nine-year veteran of the Fire Department, was discovered in his cell by a detention officer who was conducting security checks.
According to a news release from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, detention officers and jail medical staff immediately began first aid while waiting for emergency services responders to arrive.
Quick was later taken to Duke Hospital. His condition was unknown Wednesday evening.
Paul Sherwin, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said in the news release that sheriff’s detectives are working to complete an investigation of the incident and that more details will be released as they become available.
Quick was arrested Tuesday night in connection with the attempted robbery of a Dollar Tree on Guess Road. He was in jail under a $9 million bond.
In addition to the robbery attempt at the Dollar Tree, Quick is a suspect in seven other robberies and attempted robberies of area dollar stores and fast-food restaurants dating back to May 8.
Quick faces 43 charges in connection with the robberies, which occurred over a six week period beginning on May 8.
The charges include 19 counts of kidnapping, 11 counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, seven counts of assault by pointing a gun, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of communicating threats.
In all of the robberies, the suspect was wearing a Green Goblin-style mask, dark clothing and a hoodie and was armed with a gun. Many of the robberies occurred around closing time for the businesses.
During a press conference earlier Wednesday, law enforcement officials said Quick’s arrest was the culmination of a lengthy investigation that involved several units of the Police Department, Durham County Sheriff’s Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“Using our data, we were able to have a good handle on where he would more than likely be striking, and we went looking for him,” said Police Chief Jose Lopez.
Lopez said it was not clear what led Quick, who was fired by the City of Durham on Wednesday, to commit the robberies.
Quick’s arrest comes at a time when police are also investigating the theft of cash, electronics and other valuables worth $1,200 from individual firefighters at several different fire stations.
Lopez did not rule Quick out as a suspect in the thefts, but said it would be “premature to say at this point that he was the [only] suspect.”
Fire Chief Bruce T. Pagan, Jr. said Quick’s alleged behavior is not representative of the men and women of the department.
“We have a department that prides itself on being honest and carrying out our duties with a high degree of integrity, and we don’t want the public to think this is a widespread situation throughout our department,” Pagan said.
Pagan also confirmed reports that Quick was arrested in 2007 on charges of soliciting a prostitute and suggested there was some movement at that time to fire him.
“When the case was disposed of in court, we didn’t have grounds to follow through with the termination,” said Pagan.
Quick was hired in August 2003. He was earning $40,428 per year at the time he was fired.
Pagan said Quick had some minor discipline problems during his stint as a Durham firefighter, but was “knowledgeable, well-liked and easy to get along with.”
Quick is also a suspect in the following robberies and attempted robberies:
- May 8 at GameStop, 1804 North Pointe Drive.
A man took cash from the business and robbed employees of wallets and phones.
- May 12 at Family Dollar, 1518 South Miami Boulevard (in Durham County).
A man took cash from the business and wallets and phones from employees.
- May 17 at Dollar General, 101 Ganyard Farm Way.
A man took cash from the business and robbed employees.
- May 22 at Family Dollar, 2110 North Roxboro Street.
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.
- May 23 at Dominos, 1209 West Main Street.
A man took cash from the business and an employee.
- May 23 at Captain D’s restaurant, 4300 North 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.
- 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.
Anyone with additional information on these robberies or other robberies is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
Copyright 2012 The Durham Herald Co.
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