Portland, OR – Tensions escalated dramatically within the ongoing hostage situation at the First National Bank of Portland this afternoon following the release of a previously undisclosed video message from one of the hostages, identified as Arthur Penhaligon, a senior accountant for the bank. The shaky, low-quality footage, reportedly captured by Penhaligon’s own mobile phone, has sent a wave of anxiety through law enforcement and the city’s residents.

The video, which surfaced on social media shortly after 2:15 PM PDT, shows Penhaligon, visibly distressed and pale, speaking directly to the camera. He repeatedly pleads for his release, stating he is “terrified” and that he’s “not going to last much longer.” He repeatedly mentions a ‘deadline’ and a specific, obscure mathematical equation, suggesting a complex, possibly obsessive, motivation for the perpetrator, identified only as “The Calculator,” who has been holding the bank’s employees and several customers captive for the past 48 hours.

“He kept repeating it – ‘17.29,’ over and over,” recounted Officer Miller, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Department. “It was unsettling. We’ve brought in cryptographers and mathematicians to try and decipher what he’s referring to, but so far, nothing concrete.”

The video’s release has prompted a significant increase in the number of officers deployed to the scene, with a perimeter established around the bank and surrounding streets. Negotiations, previously focused on establishing communication and a peaceful resolution, have reportedly stalled.

“The Calculator seems less interested in a discussion and more focused on… something else,” stated Detective Reynolds, the lead negotiator. “He’s been issuing increasingly specific demands – demands that appear to be entirely centered around the completion of this ‘calculation’ he’s obsessed with.”

Adding to the uncertainty, a small group of protestors gathered outside the bank, holding signs displaying various mathematical symbols and the number ‘17.29.’ Witnesses reported chanting slogans related to the value of pi and the Fibonacci sequence.

The FBI has been contacted and is assisting with the investigation. Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area and refrain from spreading misinformation online. The situation remains fluid and highly volatile.