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Wendy's restaurant robbed by gunman

By Blackwell Thomas, The Southern

Monday, June 30, 2008 10:24 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - A masked gunman forced employees at the Wendy's restaurant at 500 E. Walnut St. to lie on the floor as he robbed the business early Monday morning.

Carbondale police reported Monday afternoon that officers responded to a report of a robbery at the restaurant at 12:47 a.m. Monday. Shortly before that time, a black male in his 20s entered the building wearing a mask, dark clothing and holding a gun, police said.

Once inside, the suspect ordered the employees to lie on the floor while he took cash from the restaurant's office before fleeing on foot. The amount of money stolen was not released.

Police Chief Bob Ledbetter said three employees were in the restaurant at the time of the robbery; none of them were hurt.

"I have no idea how long he was there (in the restaurant) for," Ledbetter said of the assailant.

Ledbetter would not confirm if any surveillance cameras in the area caught an image of the suspect.

"Of course that would be a matter of the investigation and we would certainly be checking on those kinds of things as part of our investigation," he said.

On Monday afternoon, a man who identified himself as the restaurant's manager said none of the employees who were present during the robbery were there and that he was unable to comment on the robbery.

Police described the suspect as between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-11, with a slender build.

"If anyone has any knowledge of who was involved, certainly please pass that along to us," Ledbetter said. "We want to be able to resolve this and bring that person to justice."

Crimestoppers can be reached at 549-COPS.

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com / 351-5823