POST FALLS - Having formerly worked at a Las Vegas casino, Heather Sigel knows when to call a bluff.

So when robbery suspect John D. Owens allegedly demanded money from the Flying J Travel Plaza clerk Wednesday morning, she went against the norm on heists and refused to hand over the cash.

Owens, Sigel said, asked her why not.

"I stepped back and told him that I couldn't open the register," Sigel said. It was a fib.

Owens flinched, took off running and was detained a short time later without incident along the Spokane River, wearing only shorts.

Sigel wouldn't recommend her decision to other clerks in most robbery cases, but no weapon was displayed and she said she never felt threatened by the 21-year-old Owens from Pahrump, Nev.

"He didn't have the right tone in his voice (to be armed and dangerous) and I used to work at a Las Vegas casino, so I can read body language," Sigel said. "He didn't seem like a threat. If he would have had a weapon, I would have handed over the cash - no questions asked."

Sigel said she believes that Owens also recognized that there were big truckers standing in line to check out and another Flying J worker had just entered the building. It became quickly apparent that Owens, who was wearing a beanie and bandana, didn't want to make further demands.

"It was busy in here, so I think that helped a lot," Sigel said. "He spoke kind of quietly, but I think a couple truckers heard him and thought, 'Are you serious?' I had called (Owens) down to me from the (checkout) line because he seemed a little shady."

After police responded, Owens couldn't initially be located, as he had run toward the Spokane River.

However, a short time later, police received two calls of a suspicious male near Raycap, 806 Clearwater Loop.

"One of the reports said that he was taking off his clothes," Post Falls Police Capt. Greg McLean said.

Police found Owens along the river wearing only his shorts.

"He was sitting on a bench, staring at the river," McLean said. "We could see his green beanie and blue bandana on the shore."

McLean said Owens didn't have an explanation for shedding his clothes.

"We're not sure if it was because he thought it would have been more difficult to identify him or if he thought about swimming across the river," McLean said.

Owens was detained without incident. Sigel identified Owens as the suspect to police. Owens was booked into the Kootenai County jail for robbery.

Owens told police that he is homeless and has been in the area for three weeks.

"He said that he wanted to make his life better with more money," McLean said.