Alabama Man Attempts to Rob Arby’s With BB Gun and Fails Miserably

The man was identified as 23-year-old Preston Hope Northan.

Person with short hair and facial tattoos looking at the camera
(Image via Gulf Shores Police)
Person with short hair and facial tattoos looking at the camera

A man in Fairhope, Alabama, attempted to rob an Arby's restaurant and two customers with a BB gun, al.com reports.

According to Gulf Shores police, the man walked into the fast food establishment and demanded an employee give him money while pointing the gun. The employee then ran to the back of the store to get the manager, which led to the man running out of the store. 

He then tried to rob two customers of their car keys outside of the restaurant before fleeing the scene and dropping the weapon altogether. Police stated he was eventually taken into custody and charged with two counts of 1st-degree robbery. He was identified as 23-year-old Preston Hope Northan, while the weapon was found by a K9 Unit next to the restaurant. According to the report, the weapon was a BB gun.

Arby's restaurant signage with a hiring advertisement and promotional food deal

This isn't the first time Northan has gotten in trouble. In 2021, he was charged with robbery, burglary, assault and reckless endangerment. He entered a guilty plea deal with prosecutors where he was sentenced to 20 years in state prison with 15 years suspended. There's no information on why he was released from prison.

Earlier this month, a man in Memphis tried to rob a gas station with a five-foot-long snake wrapped around his neck. He was charged with two counts of attempted aggravated robbery and his bond is set at $4,000.

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