Tampa police find robber who claimed AIDS syringe

Apr 19, 2009 1 min read

TAMPA (AP) – Police have arrested a man who allegedly tried to rob a Tampa pharmacy by saying he had a syringe that contained the AIDS virus.

Twenty-three-year-old Anton Ziherle was arrested Saturday. He got caught after someone recognized him from security footage played on the news.

Ziherle allegedly demanded oxycodone, a narcotic painkiller, but ran off after pharmacy staff confronted him.

Detectives don’t believe Ziherle actually had a needle with the virus. They found several syringes during the arrest, but none with anything inside.

The suspect also faces felony carjacking charges after allegedly knocking down a woman and stealing her car.