GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a twist of events early this morning, 21-year-old Bennett Stringfellow found himself in handcuffs after allegedly swiping a tip jar from a local eatery, Gyros and Grill. The situation took an unexpected turn when an employee, after pursuing him, seized Stringfellow’s phone, leading to a false police report of robbery.
At around 2:40 a.m. on October 25, Stringfellow approached officers from the Gainesville Police Department along the 1000 block of West University Avenue. He claimed he had been physically attacked and robbed of his phone by an unidentified assailant. Though he was unable to pinpoint the exact location, he provided officers with a rough area to investigate.
As officers accompanied Stringfellow to the vicinity he mentioned, an employee from Gyros and Grill, located at 826 W. University Avenue, approached them. The employee recounted how he had chased Stringfellow out of the establishment after witnessing him take the tip jar.
The employee explained that Stringfellow had entered the restaurant, placed an order, and while waiting, appeared fixated on the tip jar. After receiving his food, he lingered near the jar and, seizing a moment of distraction among the staff, reportedly grabbed it and made a run for it.
Following a spirited chase, the employee managed to retrieve Stringfellow’s phone, prompting Stringfellow to halt and express, “I need that.” However, the brief pause was short-lived, as Stringfellow resumed his flight only to later return to the restaurant with a police officer. He then accused the employee of stealing his phone, adding another layer to the unfolding drama.
The employee said he chased Stringfellow and managed to take his phone, which caused Stringfellow to stop and say, “I need that.” However, he said, Stringfellow started running again and later returned to the restaurant with a police officer, claiming the employee had stolen his phone.
The officer reported that Stringfellow spontaneously stated that he had stolen the tip jar and had then run away with it. Stringfellow reportedly said the same thing after acknowledging his Miranda rights.
The officer reported that the tip jar was not recovered because although Stringfellow told the officer where he had left it, it was not there. No money was found on Stringfellow, and the exact amount of money in the tip jar is unknown.
Stringfellow has been charged with theft and making a false police report. He has no local criminal history, and Judge William Davis released him on his own recognizance.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
