Woman Brandishes Pepper Spray to Rob Fast-Food Restaurant for Gambling Money

A woman has been arrested after robbing a fast-food restaurant with pepper spray. Although the exact sum she stole remains unclear, she is believed to have lost most of it at a nearby casino.

The Woman Gambled with the Stolen Money

Reports say that, on January 2, Kaudija Haynes entered a Chick-fil-A drive-thru in Leeds, Alabama, where she pulled out a pepper spray. Instead of using the spray as a self-defense tool, she used it to threaten the workers and demand money. Feeling threatened by the woman, the employees had no choice but to comply. After that, Haynes sped away in a reckless manner, almost hurting other employees in the process.

The police were called immediately and, shortly after, managed to track Haynes’ location. As it turned out, Haynes, now possessing some newly-found cash, had rushed to Wind Creek Casino in Wetumpka, Alabama.

The Wetumpka Police Department and the Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department joined forces to chase and apprehend Haynes, who tried to escape. The woman ended up crashing her SUV and was promptly arrested. Luckily, no one was hurt in the process.

Haynes was promptly arrested and is currently being held in the Elmore County Jail on charges of resisting arrest and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. She is set to be transferred to the St. Clair County Jail, where she will face charges of robbery and endangerment.

Leeds Police Chief: “Crime Doesn’t Pay”

While many online commentators found the idea of committing a robbery only to lose the money at a casino, Paul Irwin, chief of the Leeds Police, was not amused. Even though some suggested that the woman might have been seeking a quick win in order to provide for her family, Irwin did not approve of the fact that she gambled instead of potentially helping her loved ones.

Irwin acknowledged that the woman could have been facing a precarious financial situation and potential strain related to family issues, but suggested that some of this strain might have been caused by her obviously unhealthy gambling habits in the first place.

The police chief emphasized that most casino patrons don’t walk out winners.