DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – A suspect robbed two people at gunpoint a day after trying to use a fake $100 bill in a store, police say.
A sworn statement says Robert Pickel, 35, followed a man and woman out of Ken’s A-Frame Tavern (1303 E. Eldorado St.) at 10:25 p.m. on Oct. 13, when they left out of the back door to smoke a cigarette. Police say he pointed a pistol at them before stealing the man’s wallet and the woman’s purse.
He’s accused of then running from the scene.
Officers say Pickel brought the fake money into Discount Tobacco Shop (2239 E. Eldorado St.) at about 11 a.m. on Oct. 12. They say worker in the store realized the $100 bill he tried to use on a lighter and cigarettes was fake because it didn’t have the security strip and hologram image of real money. When she pointed it out to him and threatened to call police, the statement says he grabbed the money and ran.
Police say they found the money in his Macon County Jail possessions on Oct. 18, when they served a warrant.
Pickel is facing aggravated robbery and forgery charges in Macon County. He is behind bars with a bond amount set at $30,000.
