Tax sign holder wearing Statue of Liberty costume robbed, authorities say

HOLIDAY— A 16-year-old wearing a Statue of Liberty costume was robbed Feb. 15 while waving a sign for a tax filing service on U.S. 19, authorities said.

The suspect, a 17-year-old who lives in Holiday, was arrested Monday and charged with robbery. The Times is withholding his name because he is a juvenile.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the 17-year-old said if the victim did not hand over all his money, he would kill him. The victim, a 10th grader who works for Liberty Tax Services, gave the suspect $120. The two teens did not know each other, a report states.

The suspect accosted the victim the next day, saying he knew the victim "snitched" and called the Sheriff's Office, authorities said. The suspect demanded daily payments of $20. The victim was able to get away. But while holding the sign Monday near the tax business at 1816 U.S. 19 in Holiday, the victim saw the suspect coming toward him and called the Sheriff's Office.

The suspect was apprehended and was taken into juvenile custody.