A pregnant La Crosse woman on probation is accused of trying to rob a South Side restaurant for drug money late Tuesday only to fail when she could not pull her weapon - a hammer - from her shorts.
"I want a soft shell and this is a stickup. Give me all your money," the woman reportedly told the cash-ier about 10:40 p.m. at Taco John's, 1211 Jackson St.
The woman then tugged on the handle of a hammer in her pocket but could not work it free, according to La Crosse police reports. The cash-ier pressed the restaurant's panic button and called 911 as the woman fled.
Julie Bailey, 38, of 934 Jackson St., was arrested within minutes on 10th Street, a wooden hammer in her hand. Officers also recovered Bailey's pink and white slippers believed worn during the crime near 10th and Jackson streets.
She is jailed on a $10,000 cash bond and faces charges of attempted armed robbery and obstructing officers when she returns Wednesday to La Crosse County Circuit Court.
Bailey, who had a 0.21 percent blood-alcohol content when arrested, told police her roommate threatened to evict her if she didn't come up with money for crack cocaine. She tried to sell her engagement ring back to Kmart for $150, then decided against robbing Mr. Stix tavern and the Walgreens store because both were too crowded, reports stated.
Her roommate also supplied the hammer used in the attempted robbery, Bailey told police. Bruce Collins, 51, is expected to be charged with being party to the crime of attempted armed robbery and bail jumping Wednesday. He is jailed on a $5,000 cash bond.