NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton man denied stealing around $80 worth of tips from a downtown restaurant Tuesday evening.
Eugene F. Malek, 42, of 13 Pine St., pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Northampton District Court to larceny under $250 and disguising to obstruct justice.
Malek allegedly stole money from a tip jar on the bar at Roberto’s Restaurant shortly after 9:05 p.m.
He entered the bar and asked to charge his phone, according to court documents. The manager agreed and plugged the phone in in the restaurant’s back room.
When the manager returned from retrieving Malek’s phone after it had charged, she found him standing behind the bar, the documents read.
The manager noticed money had been taken from the tip jar and followed Malek out of the bar and asked him for the money back but Malek ran, according to court documents.
Police found him hours later after a concerned motorist called about a man walking on Easthampton Road shortly before 1 a.m.
Malek was arrested and allegedly admitted to police he took the money and that it was stupid of him to do so, court documents read.
Following court Wednesday, Malek was released on personal recognizance
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.