By Dominik Lobkowicz
Kindergarteners at Miller School sit up in excitement as Chief of Police Bill Labombarde returns their runaway gingerbread man, Gingy, Dec. 17. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
Deb’s Diner employees Jackie York and Melanie Hilton pose with Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde after the capture of Gingy, a gingerbread man who ran away from the kindergarten at Miller School earlier this month. Labombarde captured Gingy escaping out of the restaurant’s back room Dec. 17. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
A gingerbread manhunt came to a head Dec. 17 when Waldoboro police officers, apparently in the right place at the right time, captured a confectionery fugitive escaping from
Deb’s Diner in Waldoboro.
Gingy, the latest of a series of gingerbread men delivered by Santa Claus to the kindergarten of Miller School over the years, went missing earlier this month. Claus
reportedly left a note for the students to watch Gingy due to his sneakiness.
After Gingy took off, students put up “Missing!” posters around the school, and police were notified.
Chief of Police Bill Labombarde returned Gingy to Miller School soon after the gingerbread man’s capture.
“Gingy!” the students cheered as their friend was brought into the classroom.
According to Labombarde, he was having lunch at Deb’s Diner with Officer Larry Hesseltine and others that afternoon “and all of a sudden we heard a ruckus in the
back room, a commotion, a big commotion.”
Labombarde said he went running over, calling for Hesseltine to back him up, and saw Gingy climbing out the window.
“He was putting up a fight, he did not want to come,” Labombarde said.
“I knew, because I’ve seen posters all over town and I’ve been hearing rumblings throughout the school community you’ve been looking for him, and that he was wanted,
so I apprehended him and brought him right back here to you,” Labombarde said.
“Well, good job,” said a student as applause erupted.
Labombarde was unsure of Gingy’s intended destination or other goals. In years past, other escaped gingerbread men have been apprehended at Moody’s Diner and Dunkin’
Donuts, and in both cases were reported to have been visiting baked good relatives.
“You guys better keep a good eye on him, because he’s going to take off again,” Labombarde cautioned.
The children took the warning seriously.
“He needs a timeout with the principal,” one student suggested.
“I want to lock him in a cage,” said another.