Bank robbery suspect head butts Sarasota officer

The Sarasota Police Department arrested a 25-year-old Sarasota man March 19, for robberies at Walgreen’s Pharmacy and a Bank of America branch on Fruitville Road and assaulting a law enforcement officer.

A Walgreen’s employee told police that John R. Eilermann bought a pack of gum and asked for all the money in the register before 7:40 a.m. He then put his finger in his sweatshirt to imply he had a gun, and fled when the employee couldn’t open the cash register.

At about 9:40 a.m., Eillerman handed a note demanding money to a teller at Bank of America at 3174 Fruitville Road. The bank employee complied with an unspecified amount of cash.

A witness followed Eillerman to the 1700 block of N. Rhodes, where he stopped his vehicle and fled on foot before the arrest shortly after. Eillerman head butted one of the arresting officers.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office charged Eillerman, who was caught within its jurisdiction, with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Corruption by Threat to a Public Official and Vehicle Theft. The Sarasota Police Department charged Eillmann with two counts of Robbery with a Weapon and Smuggling Contraband for bringing narcotics into jail.