Bar Patrons Subdue Cross-Dressing Suspected Robber

When Eric Brooks walked into The Scorpio Lounge in New Haven on Thursday, he did not look like the man wanted in connection with a homicide. In fact, he didn’t look like a man at all.

He was dressed as a woman and wore a long braided wig, the New Haven Register reports.

But his identity was revealed when he allegedly tried to rob a customer who was going outside to smoke, the Register reports.

He held something to the customer’s side and said: “You know what time it is. Lock the door,” bar owner Eli Gause told the newspaper.

The customer grabbed the would-be robber, Then, another patron came to help and they held the man.

Police determined the man the Scorpio Lounge customers capyured was Brooks, a 23-year-old man wanted in connection with the April shooting of Kenneth Bagley, 31.

Brooks was held in lieu of $500,000 bail on robbery and firearms charges and charged on a murder warrant. 

Brooks has also been charged with felony murder, murder, conspiracy, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a pistol, and robbery in the first degree.  That warrant carries a $2 million bond. 

 Follow us on Twitter @NBCConnecticut,  on Facebook, and sign up for breaking news SMS alerts on your phone by texting “CTBREAKING” to 622669.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us