Man Robs Austin Bank To Get Medical Treatment Behind Bars

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — A man arrested after robbing a North Austin bank did so in order to get arrested and seek medical treatment in jail, police said.

Edward Austin Averill III, 58, walked into the Prosperity Bank at 1610 W. North Loop Blvd. just before 1 p.m. on Friday and handed the teller a note: “This is a robbery, the message read. "Hand over all your 50s and 100s, thanks. You can call the cops now, I will be waiting outside,” the note continued, according to an arrest affidavit referenced by the Austin American-Statesman.

A bank employee followed Averill out of the bank, finding the man sitting on a curb waiting for police to arrive. The employee took video of the encounter, asking the man why he had robbed the bank. Averill is said to have responded that he needed to go to jail for the medical assistance offered to inmates.

Police arrived and arrested Averill without incident. He was booked into the Travis County Jail on a charge of robbery, a second-degree felony punishable up to 20 years in prison. Bond was set at $7,500 according to Travis County Jail records.

The nature of Averill's medical condition for which he sought treatment is unknown.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

Booking photo provided by Austin Police Department