Police Say Man Stole Baited Money

A $2,000-stack of $20 bills loaded with bait dye and tear gas exploded in an Arcadia bank employee’s shoe Wednesday night as he tried to walk out the door with the money, police said.

Shant Albert Salim, a new accounts clerk who had worked for five months at the Bank of America on 169 E. Foothill Blvd., was making a last check of the teller drawers around 6:15 p.m. when he discovered the stack of bills, Arcadia police Capt. Dave Hinig said.

The 19-year-old Temple City resident stashed the money in his shoe, Hinig said. But when Salim attempted to leave the bank, sensors in the doors caused the bait pack to explode and envelop him in a cloud of tear gas.

Salim was taken to Methodist Hospital and treated for minor burns on his foot before being booked at Arcadia City Jail on suspicion of attempted grand theft by embezzlement, Hinig said. He was being held in lieu of $10,000 bond.