WINTER PARK, Fla. — A bank robber may have thought he pulled off a cut-and-dry holdup in Winter Park Tuesday.
However, police said he didn't count on an exploding dye pack or a determined restaurant owner when he robbed a Bank of America on Aloma Avenue at lunch time.
"I really thought it was a lunatic. I didn't realize it was a bank robbery until I got a hold of him," said restaurant owner Alex Nikolloj.
Nikolloj said he still can't believe he was able to run down a bank robber.
Winter Park police say the crook gave a note to the teller asking for money and she gave him a wad of cash with a dye pack that exploded in his pants.
The robber walked into Giovanni's Italian restaurant to clean himself up. He walked through the restaurant and left a trail of red smoke, police said.
The fumes irritated the workers' eyes. They had no clue what was going on.
"I thought it was a terrorist attack," Nikolloj said.
That's when adrenaline kicked in and Nikolloj jumped into action and chased the suspect.
"This is pretty much my house. I'm here 60 to 70 hours a week. You don't do that bro. This is my business," Nikolloj said.
From the restaurant, Nikolloj ran after the suspect all the way through the shopping plaza to a Chinese restaurant that is about 80 yards away.
"When I got a hold of him, he was like. 'I'm unarmed. I'm going to give up,'" Nikolloj said.
The suspect gave up without a fight. Nikolloj held him down until officers showed up. They found the cash covered in dye.
"Afterwards they came up to me and said 'What if he had a gun?' I said, 'Wow what if he did. I didn't even think of that part,'" Nikolloj said.
Things are back to normal at Giovanni's after all the commotion.
"Would you do it again?" WFTv reporter Q McCray asked.
"Yeah. I already did it," he replied.
The suspect told Nikolloj he robbed the bank because he was hungry and didn't have a job.
Winter Park police have the suspect in custody. They haven't released his name.