It seems like the suspect was trying to make a statement and waiting to get arrested. Witnesses after the crash say that 48-year-old Blue Island resident David Whitesell was seen not running away, but just strolling by, a cup of coffee in his hand. In fact, he was arrested at a Speedway station just across the street from the bank.
This all began just a few minutes before 8 p.m. Friday when Whitesell drove his car onto the front entryway of the PNC Bank in Lockport.
As he was walking away, an explosion blew open the Honda's roof and shattered several of the bank's windows.
Whitesell is charged with arson and criminal damage to property.
The bank was closed at the time. No one was inside, and no one was injured.
After being arrested police say Whitesall refused medical attention and according to published reports he claimed there was another bomb in the car, so for a while after the explosion the area was locked down, and the ATF and the Cook County bomb squad were called out.
Police say the explosion was caused by what's known as an aerial fireworks display.
