A 34-year-old Poulsbo man was charged with first-degree robbery after he allegedly walked out on his bar tab Tuesday at the Plate & Pint and pulled a knife on an employee who asked him to pay for the two beers he drank at the pub.

Police were called just after 2 p.m. to the Plate & Pint in the Island Shopping Center on High School Road after 911 dispatchers at CENCOM got a report of a man making threats with a knife over an unpaid bar tab.

An employee at the restaurant said a man, later identified as Justin Levi Moegling, ordered two beers, drank them, then walked out without paying.

The employee followed Moegling out of the restaurant, bill in hand, and told the Poulsbo man he had to pay for his drinks.

Moegling allegedly said he had no money and said he was going to pull out a knife.

According to court documents, Moegling then pulled out a knife with a 4-inch fixed blade out of his coat and pressed the knife to the pub employee’s chest.

The employee pushed Moegling away, and Moegling then quickly walked away from the pub south on Hildebrand Lane while yelling at the employee to “not call the cops.”

Two Bainbridge officers found Moegling less than 10 minutes later about 200 yards south of the restaurant, and a knife matching the description given by the restaurant employee was found in Moegling’s possession.

The employee later identified Moegling as the man who did not pay his tab and threatened him with a knife, according to a statement of probable cause in the case.

Moegling was arrested just before 3 p.m.

While he was being taken to Kitsap County Jail, police said he “excitedly uttered” that he “should have stabbed him and fled to LA.”

Moegling was booked into Kitsap County Jail Tuesday afternoon. He was later charged in Kitsap County Superior Court with a felony count of first-degree robbery.

Conviction of first-degree robbery can result in a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.

Moegling has an extensive criminal history, according to court records.

He has been convicted of residential burglary at least five times in Kitsap, and also has been charged and found guilty on malicious mischief and drug crimes in Kitsap.

During his arrest, police noted his history of theft, burglary and failure to appear in court, and said he was a flight risk.