Man accused of trying to break into ATM with cutting torch was wearing armored underpants

A man accused of trying to use a cutting torch to break into an ATM was wearing ballistic vests and armored underpants when he fired pepper spray at an officer, according to police in Portland, Oregon. The situation began unfolding at 3am on Sunday.

Police received a report of a man carrying a backpack who had tried to use a torch on a US Bank ATM. An officer spotted the suspect walking through a nearby parking lot. As the officer got out of his patrol car to contact the man, the suspect turned and sprayed a liquid toward him. Police said the liquid was later determined to be pepper spray. It did not hit the officer.

The suspect dropped his backpack as the officer chased after him, before finally surrendering to police. Investigators said the backpack contained an acetylene torch and stun gun. The suspect, identified as Mark Fischer, 32, was wearing two ballistic vests. Additionally, Fischer had multiple ballistic panels sewn into his underpants, according to police, covering his legs, backside and crotch area.

Police said Fischer was also armed with a large knife. Fischer was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of being a felon in possession of body armor, attempted aggravated theft, attempted assault on a police officer, attempted escape, menacing, possession of burglary tools and interfering with a peace officer.