A Georgia man tried to rob a bank without brandishing a weapon but instead threatened to spread COVID-19 if employees did not cooperate, police say

• Georgia authorities detained a 51-year-old man for attempting to rob a bank on November 28, Newsweek reported.
• Victor Crawley tried to rob a Chase Bank and told everyone that he would give them COVID-19 if he did not receive the money, according to a news release from the local sheriff's office.
• Crawley did not obtain any money during the robbery attempt and later told authorities that he needed about $2,000 to pay his bills.

Georgia authorities arrested a man who is accused of robbing a bank last month and used his positive COVID-19 diagnosis as leverage during his attempt in order to get money to pay his bills.

On November 28, 51-year-old Victor Crawley walked into a Chase Bank in Riverdale, Georgia, and gave a bank employee a note demanding that they give him money, according to a news release by the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.

Although Crawley was not armed with a weapon, he told everyone in the bank that he would infect them with COVID-19 if they did not listen to his requests.

"The suspect did not display a weapon, but stated he had tested positive for COVID-19, and that if the bank did not comply with his demands, he would began to infect everyone in the branch," authorities said.

According to the news release, when staff called the police, Crawley left the bank with no cash. He was arrested at his home on Thursday and told authorities that he made an effort to rob the bank to get $2,000 to pay his bills.

Newsweek reported that Crawley is facing a criminal attempt charge and is in custody at Clayton County Jail in which authorities say is "Georgia's toughest para-military jail."