Robbery suspect sought

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Police are searching for the man who robbed two employees at a local restaurant at gunpoint and got away with more than $600.

A manager and a cook at IHOP, 833 Boardman- Poland Road, told police they were robbed while taking the trash out around 11:40 p.m. Sunday.

Police said the two were taking out the last load of garbage after the store closed at 10 p.m. when they saw a man with a handgun standing in the fenced dumpster area. The man said, “Give me the money,” and the manager handed over the deposit bag containing $603, and the cook opened his wallet to show the man he had no money, according to reports.

The man then ordered the two employees to their knees and told them to count to 100, before fleeing, police said.

Police dogs were called to the scene, but no tracks were discovered, reports stated.

Police said the suspect was described as a white male with a thin build, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, who was wearing all black clothing, including a ski mask, dark baseball hat and black gloves.

The manager also told officers that the man’s voice sounded familiar and that she had taken a phone call around 9 p.m. Sunday from an unidentified man asking what time the restaurant closed, according to reports.