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Photo: justephens, Flickr
A manager of a Sonic in St. Joseph, Mo., recently staged a lunchtime mugging, recruiting someone to enter the restaurant with a real-looking toy gun and hold it to an employee's head. Problem was, employees weren't the only ones taken by surprise: When authorities received frantic reports from panicked customers of a potential hostage situation, they sped to the restaurant to resolve it.
"The officers quickly determined this was a training exercise," St. Joseph Police Department commander Jim Connors recounts. "We forcefully got the message across that's not expected behavior."
Sonic did not return calls and e-mails seeking comment, so it's unclear whether the manager was following a corporate directive. Connors reports the St. Joe police also contacted Sonic in the wake of the incident, but have not yet received a response.
No arrests were made in conjunction with the pseudo-crime.
Fast food restaurants are frequently targeted by robbers: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dozens of fast food workers are killed every year, usually in the course of late-night armed robberies. Asked whether St. Joe's fast food restaurants have been plagued by violent crime, Connors said "No."
"If you're going to do this," he added, "At least do it when customers aren't there."
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11-13-2009 @11:08AM Kari said... Definitely cops deserve to get paid more than waitresses per hour! I don't care how demanding waitressing is, cops put their life on the line everyday. Besides this, they also attend training. They have formal education and therefore, get paid well for what they do.
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11-13-2009 @11:05AM poot said... What do I think would happen? Probably nothing, just like happened when the police showed up, unless you have a John Wayne fantasy. However, I'd be more concerned with some nutjob carrying that thinks he's there to save the day--you know, the same nutjobs that think college students should all be allowed to carry guns on campus "just in case." Of course, in tat case, no one ever thinks about what happens when the cops show up and start shooting everyone waving a gun.
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11-13-2009 @11:13AM Jim said... If an armed patron, most likely off-duty or retired, was at this establishment, he/she could have killed the "perpetraitor". Justifiable homicide. People have to think about what the worst possible thing could happen to the scenario's, but they choose not to.
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11-13-2009 @11:26AM Cora said... It's a fortunate break that none of the patrons had a gun. Let's not forget the idiot that was acting as the robber. That's the dope that would have been fired at. I hope that manager gets fired.
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11-13-2009 @12:22PM rick said... I knew a small town bank president that tried a fake bank holdup one day, and unfortunately an elderly woman had a heart attack in the lobby. What a stupid thing to do. I think that they did get sued by the woman's family, and rightfully so.
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11-13-2009 @12:53PM Andy said... Amen Gary - the "mugger" would have been one dead, fake mugger if it happened in a business where I happen to be and can get a shot with no risk of harming innocents. What an absolute, grade "A" dumbass - the manager AND the fake mugger.
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11-13-2009 @12:56PM Rich said... I understand the manager used to work as a manager in a movie theather. He used to conduct fire safety drills by shouting "FIRE!" in the theater during the middle of a movie.
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11-13-2009 @1:11PM Steve said... If you are fearful of opening your door without a gun in your pocket you need to move and fast. Thats no way to live. I own several guns all are in the closet and unloaded.
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11-13-2009 @1:39PM jwg said... did this fake gun have a orange tip to the muzzle and there are too many people with carry permits that have no idea what to do in such a situation let alone have the marksmanship abilities to shoot and kill the robber or innocent bystanders.
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11-13-2009 @1:37PM ali254 said... First of all what the hell does this have to do with the story? Here's a thought-I am in law enforcement, and if you think we are overpaid, maybe you should try to get on with your local PD. Then tell us if you're "overpaid." Waitresses typically don't put their lives on the line each day/night to make sure your dumbass is safe.
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11-13-2009 @1:39PM Mitchell said... In parts of New Jersey, someone would have pulled a gun and shot the fake gunman dead. That would have been very educational.
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11-13-2009 @2:05PM kevin said... What kind of dumb ass manager would do that without saying anything ? I know if I saw something like that happening not only would I call 911 but I would also try to drop the guy anyway I could. Being somebody that has been help up at gun point twice it's not something you forget or really get over. But you do think about what has and can happen to another person. I think that manager should be demoted or let go for a stupid stunt like that during business hours.
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11-13-2009 @2:12PM CoreyR said... I suppose it is "beating a dead horse" but I will again point out what if there had been an off duty or plainclothes law enforcement officer in the restuarant? Additionally what about a legally armed citizen, open carrying or carrying concealed with a permit? I have a concealed carry permit and I do carry. While I generally have a "do not get involved in things which do not involve me" policy I am not sure I could stand idly by if I felt someones life could potentially be in danger. While I do not currently work in a military or law enforcment field, I did for many years and there is just that basic drive not to stand there and watch an innocent person die. The manager of that Sonic needlessly endagered several potential lives with this reckless act. I would hope that Sonic would dismiss this individual.
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11-13-2009 @4:17PM JM Dumas said... This assinine and irresponsible stunt ranks right up there in stupidity with the hot air balloon hoax.
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11-13-2009 @5:12PM William said... Lets pretend. If one of there customers had a concealed weapon permit and considered him or others in a life threatening situation and he wasted one of the actors, Sonic and the fellow MORONS would be out of house and home and a lot of last years profits. They would also face a min. charge of manslaughter. What MORONS_MORONS_MORONS.
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11-13-2009 @5:40PM Jen said... Sounds like something Michael Scott would do.
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11-13-2009 @8:07PM Andrew Kirch said... As someone who carries, if I draw down on this guy in Indiana and blow his head off, because I'm not telling him to stop, I'm shooting, I'm in the legal right, and would then have cause against Sonic, the manager, and the guy's estate.
I invoice estates for the bullet.
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