AUSTIN — A Burlington, Iowa, man suspected of robbing a bank in Ames, Iowa, was caught in Austin Thursday afternoon before he had the chance to cook methamphetamine in a stolen truck.

Austin police arrested Kirk Matlock, 55, at the Econo Lodge at 3303 Oakland Ave. W. at about 3:43 p.m. Thursday, a little more than 20 minutes after police found a Chevy S-10 pickup truck Matlock allegedly stole in the hotel’s parking lot. Officers arrested him in a hallway, according to Police Chief Brian Krueger.

Matlock allegedly demanded money from Midwest Heritage Bank inside a Hy-Vee at 640 Lincoln Way in Ames at about 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Des Moines Register.

From there, Matlock spent the night at a hotel in Mason City, Iowa, before he went to Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood Thursday morning to gamble.

Matlock drove to Austin and bought a digital scale and pseudoephedrine from Walmart before he found a hotel, Krueger said.

Police executed a warrant to search Matlock’s room shortly after 8:40 p.m. Thursday, where they found almost $400 in cash, several baggies with what officers suspect is meth, the scale, tubing and several chemicals commonly used to make meth.

Matlock allegedly confessed to the robbery in Ames and said he had bought the ingredients to make meth, though he said he was going to cook meth inside his stolen truck rather than his hotel room.

Matlock was taken to the Mower County Jail on felony drug charges with intent to manufacture, motor vehicle theft and a first-degree armed robbery charge for his exploits in Iowa.