An Austin man apparently committed a crime so he could access healthcare in prison, according to court documents. The Austin Statesman reports:
A caller told dispatch that a man carrying a cane had come into the bank and passed a note and that he was waiting outside for police, the document said.
A police investigation determined that Edward Austin Averill III, 58, had walked into the bank and passed a note to a teller that said, “This is a robbery, hand over all your 50’s and 100’s, thanks,” then told the teller, “you can call the cops now, I will be waiting outside,” the affidavit said.
And wait outside he did. As CBS Austin reports:
The suspect then walked out and over to the curb with the money still in hand and sat down.
Another bank employee went outside and started recording Averill with his phone and asked why he did it, to which the suspect stated he needed to go to jail for the medical assistance.
The employee remained talking with Averill until police arrived and took Averill into custody.
Averill’s bail is currently set at $7500, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office; it’s not known what condition led him to believe that a felony prison sentence was the best was to secure consistent healthcare.
What is known is that one shouldn’t have to rob a bank to see a doctor.