Corpse In Office Chair Attempts To Cash Welfare Check

[fultonCoShooter]

News Edition: 01/10/2008

NY-- Two men have been arrested in New York after wheeling a dead friend propped up in an office chair through busy streets to a check-cashing outlet in an attempt to cash his social security payment. The apparent plan to cash Virgilio Cintron's $355 (£180) welfare check, even though the 66 year old had recently died, was foiled after an off duty policeman spotted a crowd which had gathered around the seated corpse.

David J. Dalaia and James O'Hare were arrested yesterday outside the Pay-O-Matic store in the Hell's Kitchen district of Manhattan after pushing Cintron's body from the apartment they shared about a block away, police said.

"Hell's Kitchen has a rich history but this is one for the books," police spokesman Paul Browne was quoted as saying by the New York Times.

"The witnesses saw the two pushing the chair with Cintron flopping from side to side and the two individuals propping him up," he explained.

On arriving at the store, the men left Cintron's body outside and went in to try and cash his cheque, Browne said. However, a member of staff knew Cintron and asked where he was. O'Hare said he would go and get him.

By this time a detective having lunch in a restaurant next to the cheque-cashing store noticed a crowd forming around Cintron's body. He went to investigate, Browne said, and it was "immediately apparent to him that Cintron [was] dead".

The detective called uniformed colleagues and they and an ambulance crew arrived as O'Hare and Dalaia were preparing to wheel Cintron's body into the store. The duo, both aged 65, were arrested on suspicion of fraud.

It appeared that Cintron had died from natural causes at the apartment shared by O'Hare and Dalaia within the previous 24 hours, police said.

[sgt7546]

Sounds like "Weekend at Bernie's" part two.

[normanvin]

i saw that. life imitating art?

[vetter3006]

I read this story to and had a good laugh at it. It also reminded me of weekend at Bernies. What two 60year old junkies would do to get cash.

[sgt7546]

The mischief of junkies can be amazing. No offense to the deceased in this post, but I'd rather see him being wheeled around in chair than see the junkies walking my DVD player into a pawn shop.

[armabill]

Trying to help out a friend who couldn't help himself. What are friends for?

[Montanya]

OMFG QUICK OUTLAW OFFICE CHAIRS!! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

[angus]

OMFG QUICK OUTLAW OFFICE CHAIRS!! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

100% of dead-guy-strapped-to-an-office-chair fraud incidents last year involved office chairs. The easy availability of office chairs continues to be our national shame, and office-chair toting nuts continue to throttle sensible legislation with their big corporate lobbies like Staples and Office Max.

How long before we stop this madness and America's twisted love affair with office furniture, including the deadly "assault" style chair with four-way rubberized caster wheels and pneumatic lift attachments?

[XD45]

I do it all the time, the key is to use a wheelchair. Half dead/complete dead people arent out of place in those!

[Tsgtbob]

100% of dead-guy-strapped-to-an-office-chair fraud incidents last year involved office chairs. The easy availability of office chairs continues to be our national shame, and office-chair toting nuts continue to throttle sensible legislation with their big corporate lobbies like Staples and Office Max.

How long before we stop this madness and America's twisted love affair with office furniture, including the deadly "assault" style chair with four-way rubberized caster wheels and pneumatic lift attachments?

HEY! I'm sitting in one of those right now!

What next? Evil Black Dining room chairs? Sofas of Mass Destruction? LaZy Boys of unusal letahlity?