Pay $4.00 bar tab or go directly to jail and do not collect $200…

02/04/2009
More stupid criminals trying to beat the wrap and we know what happens to stupid criminals, right?

Lets see if I remember what happens.. Stupid criminal decides to violate law, tries to lie way out of violation and ends up in jail. Sounds about right, the stupid criminals prove this quick theory every day.

Anyway, you’re probably asking how a man ended up in jail over a $4 bar tab.

It has been reported that Rhett Hopkins, 25, was at O’Malleys bar in Sarasota. The police were notified when he refused to pay his bar tab.

Now if he would have left it at that, he would have been out of 4 bucks when the police arrived. Instead Hopkins being the smart criminal he is decided to try to get out of the 4 buck bar tab.

Hopkins was dumb enough to say he was an undercover Tampa Police Officer. Ok, the bar staff didn’t buy into the undercover officer so Hopkins then elected to tell the bar staff that he also worked for the Department of Homeland Security.

For some odd reason Hopkins could not provide identification that he worked at either location.

Since he was uncooperative with the police and initially even refused to give his name or pay the bar tab, the police elected to arrest him and take him to jail.


Hopkins did not get to pass go and collect 200; he went directly to jail where he was charged with falsely impersonating an officer.

Maybe I’m wrong about this but when do officers get to drink for free? I know a lot of places will provide on-duty police, fire and EMS workers with free fountain drinks because they like the presence of public safety officials at their place of business, but I don’t know of any that gives free alcohol to off duty officers.

I know some restaurants will even go as far to give a discount if you can show your ID even when off duty but still don’t know of any that gives away free alcohol.

How stupid can this guy be? He could have paid $4 and went home.

Now regardless of the outcome in court, he has been arrested and taken to jail and now facing jail time when he goes to trial and fines that could reach up to $1,500 (not sure of the max. fine in Florida for a misdemeanor)

All this over a $4 bar tab

And by the way, why could you get at a bar for $4 bucks? Was it a special on beer? From the looks of the picture he had a lot more than $4 bucks worth of beer.