Victim forced to help robber make escape

BY KEITH EPPS

An employee at a Stafford County restaurant was robbed at gunpoint Saturday night, then forced to drive her assailant to a waiting getaway vehicle, police said.

Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy said the incident started about 9:50 p.m. at the Ponderosa Steakhouse at 591 Warrenton Road in southern Stafford. It was nearing closing time, Kennedy said, and the victim was checking doors to make sure they were locked.

According to Kennedy, as the woman  neared a back door, a man wearing a black ski mask came in and pointed a gun at her. He ordered her not to look at him and asked, “Where’s the money?”

He put the gun against the back of her head and pushed her toward the main office. Once there, he demanded money from a safe, and the victim gave him an undisclosed amount.

The robber then told the victim that he needed her to drive him somewhere. He took her to the parking lot and forced her to point out her vehicle.

He made her get into the driver’s seat while he got into the passenger’s seat. He then ordered her to drive south on U.S. 17 and to “hurry up.”

The woman drove a short distance to the Exxon station in the Olde Forge area. She called 911 about 10:10 p.m. after watching the man get into the passenger’s side of an SUV that was last seen heading toward Interstate 95.

Deputy Joseph Duggins and others responded to the call, but were unable to find the man.

He was described as a black male between 5 feet 11 and 6 feet 1 inch tall. In addition to the ski mask, he was wearing a black hoodie and faded jeans.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 658-4400 or Crime Solvers at 659-2020.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404

kepps@freelancestar.com

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