PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Tampa Bay area man ordered a beer at a bar, left to rob a nearby bank then came back to finish his beer.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says 52-year-old John Robin Whittle was arrested at the Hayloft Bar in Port Richey on Thursday afternoon. Deputies say he's the man who robbed a Wells-Fargo bank branch earlier, but not before stopping off at the Hayloft for a brew.
A bartender there says Whittle ordered a beer, disappeared for about 30 minutes and then returned to his beer. Deputies say they arrested him at the bar about 10 minutes after he left the bank.
Whittle remained in jail early Friday on $10,000 bond. No attorney was listed for him.
The Hayloft Bar - population: Bartender and a thirsty armed robber of the Wells Fargo Bank -recently returned.
Bartender, " Took you long enough . . .I put a coaster over it and placed in the cooler."
Robber, "Thanks pal. Here's an Abe Lincoln for your troubles and professional attention to hospitality ethics. I had a little bit of business that needed attending. Thanks for keeping an eye on my Stiegl Pils*. This is some beer my friend. Several years ago, I was fishing a creek off of the Kankakee River and ran into two teachers from Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee. They were named Olson and Hickey. We caught a couple of stringers full of smallies and spent the next two hours cutting fillets and putting them in plastic bags. Olson said, "Let's drive over to Gardener (Illinois) and get a couple of Stiegl Pils. I was hooked by the way the two them talked about that beer.
Well, I followed them right into the Gardener House Inn - a restaurant and bar owned by Joe and his wife Waldetrou from Austria. You know What? They had a hammer-head shark on the wall that Joe caught right here in Port Richey. Well, sir that was my first taste of Stiegl.
When I saw you had it here I had to order one. Stiegl -his has become my beer. I'll sip this tasty beer as I imagine myself in Vienna or Salzburg or some rustic village in the Alps. It pours a nice straw colour with a nice foamy head. It tastes of bread like sweetness with a nice hoppy finish. It's not bitter at all, kind of sour at the finish and the bready sweetness stays with you. It's incredibly good and I think a fine example of a really good German pils."
The doors of Hayloft Bar simultaneously burst open front back and side and into the afternoon dimness and welcome crowded heavily armed Port Richey Swat Officers and Pasco County Sheriff's Police.
Port Richey Police Officer - "Put the beer down! Place your hands on the Bar!"
Pasco County Sheriff - " Hold on, Office! The man is drinking a Stiegl Pils. Show some respect. Let this man finish a wonderful Pils! You, sir, are under arrest for the armed robbery of Wells Fargo Bank and are . . . are quite obviously a very discerning pintsman. My compliments, Sir! Take your time"
*Stiegl Pils - It is that important!
An elegant, refined beer with a pleasant hoppy bitterness.
The lighter, gently kiln-dried malt gives Stiegl Pils its light golden colour. The marvellous bouquet of the finest Saaz hops, a characteristic bitterness and liveliness make it a favourite of beer connoisseurs that love a delicate hoppy note and a fine, aromatic flavour.
