A man from Florida has been arrested on robbery charges after he visited a bank and asked to take out one cent.
Michael Fleming, 41, has been accused of one count of robbery with no firearm or weapon, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened at a Chase Bank along US route 441 in Lady Lake, around 60 miles northwest of Orlando at just before 2PM on June 29, according to an arrest affidavit.
FOX5 Orlando reported that Fleming went up to the counter and passed a withdrawal slip to the bank teller for the total of one cent.
When the teller told Fleming he couldn't withdraw a penny, Fleming allegedly responded: "So you want me to say the other word?", according to police.
Fearing the situation could turn violent, the bank worker called police, who received a report about "an in-progress bank robbery" and arrived to find the defendant sitting down and waiting for them.
Law&Crime reports that Sheriff's deputies arrested the man without incident, before transporting him to the Sheriff's office for a recorded interview, where he initialed and circled several areas on a “pre-printed Miranda Warnings” form regarding the waiver of his constitutional rights.
Fleming then shared his version of events, which provided more information, with the affidavit reading: "The defendant advised he drove to the Citizens First Bank, but it was closed, so he then drove a few parking lots over to the Chase Bank.
"The defendant described walking into the bank, filled out a withdrawal slip for $00.01, provided it to the bank teller who advised we can’t give you one cent, at which time the defendant advised ‘So you want me to say the other word?’, at which time the bank teller had some kind of realization of what was taking place, and stepped away from the counter."
Fleming then allegedly told investigators: "Most of the time, the way tellers are trained if someone comes in to rob you, you give them the money and let them go."
The affidavit continued: "The defendant advised he was expecting the bank teller to give him the $00.01, at which time he would then sit in the chair and wait for law enforcement.
"The defendant advised after not receiving anything from the teller, he just waited in the lobby for law enforcement to arrive. The defendant advised his goal was to be arrested."
It went on to note that no money was obtained during the robbery attempt and that Fleming has no account with Chase, nor any prior convictions for robbery.
Fleming was originally detained on no bond, but according to the Sumter County court records, further updates to the case have come to light since his arrest, including him qualifying as indigent and being awarded a court-appointed attorney.
According to jail records, his bond has now been set at $5,000.