Story Archive

The Clown Behind the Mask

Stephen Koulias, 22, went into the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Holiday, Fla., dressed in a hoodie with a bandana over his face. He then allegedly shouted for everyone to put their hands up, that this was “a hold-up,” and ordered the bartender to give him the money from the cash register. “When the defendant realized there were other customers at the bar,” a police report said, “he took off the bandana and hood and stated he was just kidding.” Koulias was arrested, and in a search officers allegedly found a pellet gun — and methamphetamine residue — on him. He was charged with attempted robbery with a deadly weapon or firearm, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violating a pretrial release from a previous case — where he was arrested for attempted robbery of the very same club. (MS/Tampa Bay Tribune) ...Maybe one of these days, he’ll get the joke right.