Argument turned robbery lands hitchhiker in jail Saturday; Conflict rose from which way to travel

Published 10:33 am Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Two hitchhikers were traveling together when one robbed the other of money.

At about 2:11 a.m. on Saturday, the 49-year-old victim, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, reported the robbery to the law enforcement center.

The two men stopped for food in Austin and then the victim said he wanted to head toward Wisconsin, but 32-year-old Eugene Tanewasha, of Portland, Oregon, said he did not want to and became upset, according to Police Chief Brian Krueger.

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The victim reported Tanewasha tried to take the victim’s guitar and then said, “give me the money.”

The victim said he didn’t want to fight, so he handed Tanewasha about $80, who then ran off.

Police found Tanewasha in Steve’s Pizza parking lot and arrested him. They found a $20 bill on him. He is being held on charges of simple robbery.