Reno keeps a certain kind of citizen who believes in hard work, provided it belongs to somebody else. Mr. Robert Kindell, age fifty-eight and still ambitious, appears to have been one of these self-starters—though his startup capital came at gunpoint and his business plan smelled faintly of pepper spray.
The police say Mr. Kindell spent March and April conducting a small tour of local establishments, Walmart twice, the Atlantis, and the Tamarack Casino, determined to support Nevada’s economy by redistributing it. During his outings, he brought along a handgun and a can of chemical encouragement, which he applied liberally whenever the room seemed insufficiently cooperative.
The total take exceeded $10,000, which is not what you’d call a stimulus package, but it kept him busy. Now, I admire industry wherever I find it, but I do prefer it unarmed.
Mr. Kindell also showed a flair for the theatrical. The authorities say he wore wigs and masks, changing his appearance from job to job like an actor who can’t land a steady role.
It is a pity he chose robbery for his stage, because the pay is irregular and juries write the reviews. Still, you must credit a man who understands branding.
In modern times, even a criminal knows he must diversify his look if he intends to keep the public guessing and the surveillance cameras entertained.
The Reno Police Department, assisted by the Regional Crime Suppression Unit and the Repeat Offender Program, eventually decided they had seen enough of Mr. Kindell’s performances. On April 25, they closed the curtain.
A search found the cash, disguises, and guns. It reads less like evidence and more like the contents of a traveling magician’s trunk, except the trick was always the same — now you have your money, now you don’t.
He now faces charges including robbery with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, and possession of a controlled substance, which suggests he was not only robbing establishments but also negotiating with reality on flexible terms.
The Tamarack Casino job, one of his later engagements, featured a dramatic exit, out the back door, with a cloud of pepper spray for atmosphere. Some patrons developed irritation of the lungs, which is a fine way to pay for a show they did not intend to attend.
Police say Mr. Kindell has a lengthy criminal history involving casinos and banks, as he is a man loyal to his interests. In a world that celebrates consistency, he has at least picked a lane. It just happens to be the one marked “felony.”
Now, there is always a lesson in these matters, and it usually arrives late and in handcuffs. Society, in its modern wisdom, spends a good deal of time asking what more it might do for a fellow like Mr. Kindell, more programs, more chances, more understanding, while the rest of us quietly lock our doors and wonder when “enough” became a controversial number.
The investigation continues, the police say, as they look into whether Mr. Kindell has been busy elsewhere. Given his enthusiasm, one suspects he has.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
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