Armed Robbery Suspect on the Loose

By: Stephanie Baker

Updated: Fri 6:03 PM, Jan 20, 2006

January 20, 2006
Columbia County deputies search tonight for an armed robber. A man used a handgun to take money from a Japanese restaurant on Washington Road near Bobby Jones Expressway.

Officers say a man wearing a ski mask forced his way into the Matsu Sige restaurant last night. The robber fired his gun, but the bullets didn't hit anyone.

It all seemed unreal to chef Charson Anthony.

"It’s really hard to think completely straight, ya know, when you're in that situation, especially when the guy has a gun," Anthony said.

Anthony was taking out the trash, and about to head home, or so he thought.

"He grabbed me and pushed me back inside," Anthony said.

Anthony saw a loaded handgun as he was forced to the ground by the crook.

"At that moment I realized we were being robbed," Anthony said.

The incident report says the suspect fired two shots. The first when the owner had trouble opening the safe. The second was when the suspect took cash from the register.

Officers say the suspect took off running through the parking lot and ended up somewhere behind K-mart.

Captain Steve Morris says the robber left a trail behind.

"We recovered a significant amount of what we consider significant evidence both inside and outside of the restaurant," Captain Morris said.

He says this is one of about nine armed robberies in the
Area in a year.

That doesn't sit well with Charson Anthony.

"I know I’m gonna be real cautious about taking the trash out," Anthony said.

Investigators say there may be a tie-in with another armed robbery.

The Eckerd on Wrightsboro Road was robbed last night. A man reportedly walked into the store, demanded money, and then left on foot. Investigators think the two may be related.

Should city code restricting signs apply to Project Jackson signs?