What began as a request to use the bathroom at Alf Spartan Insurance Agency turned into a robbery early Wednesday afternoon.

A man entered the agency, 2660 E. Grand River Ave., and became agitated after an employee told him that he couldn't use the private bathroom. He then demanded all the money in the office.

The agency's employee — who initially thought the man was kidding — gave him less than $200 from a cash box, said Jamie Andrus, Alf Insurance Agency's operations manager.

"Luckily he didn't get away with a large amount of money," she said. "We had another robbery happen in one of our Kalamazoo offices. People know insurance agencies tend to handle large amounts of cash."

The Meridian Township Police Department will release more information about the case sometime today.

The employee, who was shaken up, wasn't harmed during the robbery, Andrus said. She added that the suspect didn't appear to be carrying a weapon.

Because the agency doesn't have a policy on handling incidents like this, it deals with situations on a case-by-case basis, Andrus said.

The agency is located next to the campaign headquarters of Mark Meadows, an East Lansing City Council member running for the state House's 69th District seat.

"It makes me feel really uneasy," said Pamela Drake, Meadows' campaign manager. "There is never any money in here. I wish I had seen (the suspect). I could be helpful to the police."

Employees of other businesses nearby said they didn't witness any unusual activity either.

Meadows said he talked with his campaign staff and told them to keep the door locked in the future.

"It's a surprise," he said. "I felt very badly for the young woman who works in (the agency). I know Pam went over and gave her our number so that if something like that should ever happen again, then she can call over here."