A 21-year-old man is accused of robbing a gas station in Fort Pierce and says he needed the money to see his son.
Cops say Middleton Henderson entered the Citgo along the 4100 block of Okeechobee Road with a cattle prod and shocked the worker behind the counter with it.
He then jumped the counter and grabbed cash from the drawer -- beating and kicking the victim.
Henderson left the prod on the floor as he left the store, and the victim, who had injuries to his eyes, hands and body, called police.
Cops found Henderson a short time later and arrested him discovering a large amount of money in his pockets.
The suspect says he's fallen on hard times and needed the money to see his son. Henderson went on to say that he recently lost his house, car and job and had been homeless.
He faces robbery and battery charges.