TGIF Knuckleheads of the Day award Part Four

Our fourth winners are the Sun-Sentinel newspaper and its reporter Jerome Burdi. They get the award for the following.

I'll let you make up your minds. From the Sun-Sentinel-

ROYAL PALM BEACH -- The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said it arrested a suspect in an attempted bank robbery and say he tried to burglarize his own home before he was caught on Wednesday.

About 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Adam Potts, 20, allegedly walked into the Regions Bank in the 1100 block of Royal Palm Beach Boulevard and handed the teller a note demanding $10,000 and implying that he had a gun, investigators said.

The teller told him, "I don't have that kind of money," and he walked away, sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said.

Deputies then responded to a burglary in progress at Potts' home in the 100 block of Miramar Avenue where he was arrested and confessed, Miller said. It is unclear why he broke the window at his own house, Miller said. Potts was charged with robbery with a firearm and burglary.

Now compare that version of Wednesday's events with the corrected version.

ROYAL PALM BEACH -- The unraveling of Adam Potts came from trying to rob and steal from people he knew.

About 11 a.m. Wednesday, Palm Beach Sheriff's Office deputies said the 20-year-old walked into the Regions Bank branch in the 1100 block of Royal Palm Beach Boulevard wearing sunglasses. He made small talk with teller Keshia Dixon, who he's known for eight years through school.

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Then he handed her a note: "I have a gun, I need $10,000 fast, please," PBSO said.

Potts' father has also worked for the bank. After realizing he was serious, Dixon told Potts she didn't have that type of money and walked away. Potts left with the note.

About 12 p.m., deputies responded to the 100 block of Sevilla Avenue for a burglary in progress. Potts was allegedly trying to rob Christopher Horter's house. He's known Potts for years too and saw him Wednesday through a window he allegedly broke to get in.

Deputies found Potts in front of his house in the 100 block of Miramar Avenue. When deputies arrived, he told his father, "I think they're here for me," according to his arrest report.

How does one get the facts glaringly wrong about a local crime story. Why didn't an editor at the Sun-Sentinel check Mr. Burdi's work? Do they just accept any fiction written by one of its reporters?

I guess they were hoping no one cared or noticed. TFM did, and for being bad Jayson Blair/New York Times imitators, Jerome Burdi and The Sun-Sentinel newspaper are today's fourth Knucklehead winners of the Day.

BTW here is the Palm Beach Post coverage of the same story.

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