The Crazy Reason a Homeless Man Robbed a Bank of Just $1

A homeless man in Oregon was so desperate for free health care services that he actually staged a bank robbery with the intention of getting arrested, Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies said.

After all -- go to jail, get free health care. Or at least health care on the taxpayer's dime.

Police say Tim Alsip robbed a bank of $1 to get free health care services. (Clackamas County Sheriff's Office)

Police say 50-year-old Tim Alsip robbed a Bank of America in Southeast Portland, Ore. on Friday afternoon of just $1. Why not ask for more? He wasn’t looking for money. He was looking to be arrested.

"This is a holdup. Give me a dollar," Alsip allegedly wrote on a note he handed to a teller, KATU-TV reported.

The teller complied, handling the homeless man a $1 bill. He then sat in the bank’s lobby and patiently waited to be arrested.

He was soon arrested and booked in the Clackamas County Jail on suspicion of robbery charges.

Alsip is no stranger to the local authorities.

Indeed, police said have dealt with him "several times this last week due to strange behavior.”

“Alsip has flagged down citizens prompting them to call law enforcement or flagged down law enforcement himself. He has been complaining of various problems which don't seem to exist. The issues he has reported to deputies include being hit by a car, pain in his mouth due to dental issues and overdosing on drugs,” police said, according to The Columbian newspaper.

Law enforcement officials claim Alsip's behavior "is consistent with the behavior he has displayed over the last week."

It’s not clear exactly what Alsip's pressing medical issues were.

--

(H/T: Gawker).Featured imageClackamas County Sheriff's Office.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

--

[related]