There's a difference between free refills and free fills.

A waiter at an IHOP in Brooklyn has been arrested after he gave away $3,000 worth of free drinks to customers that he didn't think could afford them, the ultimate form of good customer service.

William Powell, 27, says he was merely helping the needy -- and the thirsty.

I am the modern-day Robin Hood. I am not stealing, I am serving the ones in need. I take from the rich and give to the poor."

His altruism may have made him a hero among the customer base, but it's made him persona non grata at IHOP.

Powell, who's been charged with grand larceny, coughed up free drinks for six months and the amount of money it cost eventually rocketed into the amount you may pay for a bad used car.

Authorities claim it was his way of trying to earn bigger tips, an accusation he vehemently denies. "I was just trying to be generous,” he said. “You’d be surprised how many people are on a really tight budget in Brooklyn."

Powell, meanwhile, is also concerned he won't be able to get hired as a waiter again. Well, considering he's giving away some of the inventory at no cost and is completely unapologetic about it, he probably has reasonable cause to be worried.

More From 107.9 LITE FM