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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2000
BAYONET POINT -- A would-be robber ran off from a doughnut shop early Sunday morning after he tried to open the cash register himself and got his hands slapped by a cashier for trying, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported.
The man walked into the Dunkin Donuts at 11409 U.S. 19 at 1 a.m. Sunday and demanded money from the register. Cashiers said the man held his hand under his shirt as if he had a gun but never showed one.
The cashier told deputies that she closed the cash drawer and told the man he wouldn't get anything because they just changed shifts. She said the man then reached over the counter and hit buttons on the register trying to get it open.
"(The witness) slapped the suspect's hands away and the suspect said "Do you want to get shot?' " the report said.
After failing to get the register open, deputies said, the man tried to yank it out of the business. Securely bolted down, the register didn't budge.
The man ran out the door empty handed, headed south on U.S. 19.
Witnesses said the man was white, 28 or 29 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slender build. He wore a white baseball cap and a red bandana over his face.
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Employees from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office will moonlight as waiters this Friday during an annual fundraiser for the Special Olympics.
The Cops and Lobsters fund-raiser will be from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Red Lobster restaurant, 8909 U.S. 19 in Port Richey.
Sheriff's employees will help the restaurant staff serve customers, while providing people with information about the Special Olympics. Athletes who compete in the Special Olympics will also be on hand.
All tips received by the deputies will go to the Special Olympics Fund.
Last year, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and Red Lobster employees raised $1,712.05.