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Brooklyn IHOP Worker Arrested For Giving Out Free Drinks: "I Am The Modern Day Robin Hood"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 9, 2016
Modified Mar 9, 2016
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 9, 2016
Modified Mar 9, 2016
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A self-proclaimed "modern day Robin Hood" has been arrested after the former IHOP employee allegedly gave out thousands of dollars worth of free drinks to customers in Downtown Brooklyn.
According to the criminal complaint, William Powell, 27, has been charged with multiple counts of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and petit larceny after he allegedly gave out over $3,000 worth of free drinks to customers between August 2015 and February 2016 at the IHOP at 253 Livingston Street.
The complaint states that Powell defended himself after being taking into custody: "I am the modern day Robin Hood, I am not stealing, I am serving the ones in need, I take from the rich and give to the poor," he said. "What's the big deal, I've been doing this since I started here."
Powell was apparently caught after store owner Akrell Cox noticed that Powell's beverage sales were at six percent of the overall receipt compared to 17-20 percent for other employees who worked the same shift and schedule. Cox reviewed surveillance footage and saw that Powell was giving out "a typical amount of beverages to several tables of patrons"—only he wasn't charging them for it.
If only he could have made it to Free Pancake Day.
Tagged
brooklyn
downtown Brooklyn
ihop
robin hood
william powell
original
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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