Bank Robber Arrested At McDonald's

Police say Thomas Eugene tricked two people into driving him to the bank by saying he needed to cash a check and would give them gas money in exchange for a ride.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: March 17, 2009

1:40 p.m.
Police have identified the bank robbery suspect as 47-year-old Thomas Eugene of Lafayette, Louisiana.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office says Eugene told two people he needed to cash a check and that he's give them gas money if they would drive him to the bank.

They drove Eugene to the bank, but the Sheriff's Office says they had no idea he was going to rob the bank. They didn't know it had happened until police swarmed their Honda CRV.

Eugene is being held at the Escambia County Jail on $100,000 bond.

11:23 a.m.
State troopers arrested a bank robber at McDonald's.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the man walked into the Region’s Bank on West 9 Mile Road around 9:45 a.m., indicated he was armed and demanded money.

The man took off in a black Honda CRV. A Florida Department of Transportation officer spotted the car on Palafox Street and followed it to the McDonald’s at Burgess and Highway 29. Several units, including state troopers, surrounded the vehicle.

The bank robbery suspect and two other people were taken into custody. Troopers also recovered the money taken during the heist.