Police: Pa. robbery suspect used infection threat

[January 19, 2012]  SHARON, Pa. (AP) -- Police say a man tried to rob a western Pennsylvania gambling parlor by threatening to spread a staph infection.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 41-year-old Fred Parker, of Coolspring Township.

Police say he walked into Lucky's Internet Cafe in Sharon on Monday night and began touching the walls and gambling machines, claiming he has MRSA -- a serious staph infection that resists antibiotics.

Sharon police Chief Mike Menster says Parker then threatened to infect the cashier if he didn't give Parker money. The chief tells The Herald newspaper of Sharon, "It's our first case of robbery by threat of an infectious disease."

Police say Parker left when the cashier refused, but was arrested a short time later based on his description.

Parker remained in jail Wednesday.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.sharon-herald.com/

[Associated Press]

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