Who Was the Hollywood Bandit?
From a preacher's kid to one of America's most prolific bank robbers, Scott Scurlock's story is almost too wild to be believed, but it's true. Who was Scurlock — otherwise known as the Hollywood Bandit?
Humble Beginnings
Born in Virginia in 1955 to a teacher and a preacher, Scurlock was smart but lacked the motivation to focus on schoolwork. Kevin Meyers, Scurlock's friend since childhood, set off for the University of Hawaii, only to find that he, too, struggled with academic motivation. In 1974, Scurlock moved to Hawaii and soon found himself living with Kevin, now a college dropout, on a tomato farm where they both worked.
One day, the men stole a few small marijuana plants from a neighboring farm and easily sold them. That's when the lightbulb flashed on. The men realized they could make quick cash with little effort — and without caring much about the law. Fueled by their newfound scheme, they decided to plant their own hidden stash. But the secret enterprise was short-lived. When the landlord discovered the marijuana growing on the property, the pair found themselves fired and kicked off the farm. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous journey that would change their lives forever.
The Treehouse
After relocating to Olympia, Washington, Scurlock began taking classes at Evergreen State College. With a medical career in mind, he realized he could sneak into the chemistry lab after hours to cook methamphetamines. Scurlock's dream of becoming a doctor faded as he invested more time and effort into his new business. Scurlock purchased several acres just minutes from campus, and that's where he set up a drug lab in a barn and built a treehouse. But this was no kid's hangout. With three stories, a wraparound deck, and a 60-foot staircase, this elaborate treehouse became the center of Scurlock's operations. By then, Steve Meyers, Kevin's brother, and another friend named Mark Biggins joined Scurlock.
Bank Robbery
After a 10-year stint smuggling chemicals and selling drugs, Scurlock was briefly scared straight after his amphetamine distributor was murdered. He still wanted to rake in the big bucks, but how? To Scurlock, the answer soon became clear: bank robbery.
In June 1992, Scurlock and Biggins made Seattle's Seafirst Bank their first target. Scurlock decided it was time to take a big risk and enlisted Biggins to help him rob the bank in Madison Park. Biggins convinced his girlfriend to drive the getaway car. Scurlock and Biggins walked into the bank and began barking orders to intimidate everyone inside. Remarkably, no shots were fired, and they didn't even bother with the vaults. Within minutes, the pair was in and out, leaving without anyone getting hurt. They had made off with about $20,000.
Prolific Bank Robbers
The Seafirst hit seemed easy, so Scurlock kicked his life of bank robbery into high gear. Between 1992 and 1996, Scurlock went on a wild crime spree, robbing a total of 17 banks in the Seattle area. With the help of Meyers and Biggins, he managed to steal nearly $1 million. Scurlock was so bold that there were times he hit multiple banks in a single night.
Their teamwork and planning allowed them to pull off these daring heists, but each robbery brought them closer to being caught. For years, Scurlock was well-known to the police and was a top target for detectives, but he always managed to stay one step ahead. He cleverly used a local police scanner to stay informed about their movements. He also created a series of elaborate disguises that were so convincing that he earned the nickname "Hollywood."
The Last Robbery
The night before Thanksgiving in 1996, Scurlock and his accomplices walked into the Lake City location of Seafirst Bank. The robbers got their money — their biggest haul to date — and left. But Scurlock hadn't realized a teller had recognized him as he walked into the bank. The teller quickly hit the silent alarm. The police didn't arrive in time to catch the robbers as they made their escape, but they had a vital clue thanks to the alarm.
In a brave move, one of the bank's customers disobeyed Hollywood's orders and decided to follow them after they left. This customer was able to describe the getaway car to the police, which should have helped in their capture. But once again, Hollywood was one step ahead. Not far from the bank, he and his crew ditched the getaway car and switched to a white van, leaving the police with no solid leads. But next came something Scurlock hadn't counted on: traffic.
The End
Pre-Thanksgiving Seattle traffic managed to slow Scurlock, and the Puget Sound Violent Crimes Task Force cornered the van and forced it to stop. Scurlock fled the van, sending it crashing into the front of a house. Inside, police found Meyers and Biggins with non-fatal gunshot wounds. But Scurlock was on the run, and authorities began a full-scale manhunt.
One of the homes they visited belonged to 85-year-old Wilma Walker. While they searched her yard, they overlooked a decommissioned camper on her property. The next day, as Wilma had her sons over for Thanksgiving dinner, they learned about the manhunt and the $50,000 reward for Scurlock's capture.
Curious, Wilma's son Ronald peeked inside the camper and saw someone who matched Scurlock's description. Within minutes, police surrounded the camper and tried to get a response, but when they banged on the door, they heard a gunshot. Using tear gas to force their way in, they discovered Scurlock had shot himself. Scurlock's crime spree was over.
After being sentenced to jail time for their involvement in the Thanksgiving Eve robbery in 1996, Meyers and Biggins served their sentences and eventually regained their freedom. Meyers was released in 2013, while Biggins followed suit in 2015.
References: How Scott Scurlock—Subject Of Netflix's 'How To Rob A Bank'—Got Away With 17 Robberies Before Being Caught | Archives Spotlight: The Hollywood Bandit
