Florida man arrested after note asked bank teller for penny

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A Florida man who allegedly handed a bank teller a note asking for the lowly sum of one cent was arrested last month for robbery.

According to an arrest report obtained by The Smoking Gun, the strange request occurred June 29 at a Chase Bank branch in Lady Lake, about 80 kilometres north or Orlando.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said the man — who didn’t have an account with the bank — walked into the branch, filled out a withdrawal slip asking for “$00.01,” and handed it to a teller.

“The defendant was told he could not be given $00.01,” police said in the report.

Cops say the man then asked the teller, “So you want me to say the other word?”

The teller “was in fear that possible violence was imminent” and called police.

When officers arrived, the man was still inside the bank. He was taken into custody without incident.

Michael Patrick Fleming, 41, was charged with felony robbery with no firearm or weapon.

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Police say the man’s goal was to be arrested. It appears he doesn’t have a criminal record.

He agreed to be interviewed by investigators following his arrest.

The Chase Bank branch was not his first attempt to withdraw a penny. Police say Fleming first went to a Citizens First Bank, but it was closed.

According to investigators, Fleming expected to be handed one cent from the teller and that he “would then sit in the chair and wait for law enforcement.”

Police say Fleming rented a mobile home in Summerfield, about 16 kilometres from the bank. In May, he was evicted for not paying his $900 month-to-month rent.