By STEPHEN THOMPSON
The Tampa Tribune

TARPON SPRINGS - A homeless man with the street name of Grasshopper was arrested today, less than two hours after authorities say he robbed a bank with nothing more than a demand note.

Tommy Charles Miller, 48, whose last known address is 2501 East Hillsborough Ave., No. 10, in Tampa, was found sitting on a bench in the sponge docks area when an officer recognized him and took him into custody, said Capt. Jeff Young of the Tarpon Springs Police Department.

Miller had on him roughly $600, which is also the amount of money he stole during the 11:40 a.m. robbery at the Bank of America branch at 116 Pinellas Ave. S., Young said.

Miller is accused of walking into the bank with a note that demanded money and also implied he had a gun, though none was found on him later, Young said.

Bank of America’s corporate security office allowed officers access to bank video surveillance and officers used a snapshot of the suspect to ask people in the area if they knew him, Young said. Some did know him as a transient whose nickname is Grasshopper, Young said.

An officer spotted a man on the bench in the area of the sponge docks at 1:04 p.m. and addressed him as Grasshopper, Young said. The man turned his head in response, then tried to run off, but was detained, Young said.

Detectives are currently interviewing him.

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