Bank Robber Leaves a Tip

Firefighter turned criminal says he was off his medication
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 13, 2012 10:40 AM CDT
Bank Robber Leaves a Tip
Jesus Ventura's mugshot.   (Dallas County Sheriff's Dept./CBS Dallas)

If you're going to go off your meds and become a bank robber, you might as well be polite about it. That's what Texas firefighter Jesus Ventura did this week. According to a federal complaint, Ventura, 37, walked into a Chase Bank on April 10, asked where the bathroom was, and then left. He returned a few minutes later and allegedly told the teller, "I hate to do this to you, but I need you to give me all your money," CBS DFW reports.

Once the teller had given him the money, Ventura slid a $20 bill under the glass and said, "Here is a tip for you." Ventura was later caught after allegedly attempting to rob a gas station. He had been on administrative leave from the Fire Department for the past month after he was arrested for shooting a gun in the station. On Wednesday he told a judge he has bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, and was off his medication, according to NBC 5. (More firefighter stories.)

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