US News
Published
April 18, 2024, 7:06 p.m. ET
If at first you don’t succeed, try again with a snake around your neck.
A Tennessee man was arrested after trying to rob a gas station three times, with the final attempted stickup involving a 5-foot-long snake, police said.
Reginald Cook, 26, first tried to rob the Shell gas station on Elvis Presley Boulevard, in Memphis, at around 2:00 a.m. on Monday, local WREG reports.
The suspect had entered the store to make a purchase, but later demanded money from the cashier, who refused, according to the police affidavit.
Cook promptly left, but he returned 30 minutes later to demand the money again — this time reaching into his pockets to make it seem as though he had a weapon, according to the cashier’s testimony.
After the second unsuccessful robbery, police said Cook came back with a shorter temper and a five-foot snake wrapped around his neck.
“Give me the damn money,” Cook allegedly shouted to the frightened cashier.
As Cook reached into his backpack — implying again that he was about to arm himself — the cashier pulled out his own weapon in self-defense, the affidavit states.
The store employee called 911, and police arrived shortly afterward and arrested Cook without further incident.
Memphis Police found a railroad spike and a rock inside Cook’s backpack. Officers also confiscated the snake, according to the affidavit.
Cook was charged with two counts of attempted aggravated robbery, with his bond set at $4,000.
His family had visited the Shell station the following day to apologize for the incident and offered to pay for any damages caused by Cook, according to the local outlet.
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