Starke police said they have one man in custody and are looking for a second after money was taken at gunpoint from Grannies Restaurant on Saturday night.
Police said two men with guns approached an employee who had left the kitchen of the restaurant on North Temple Avenue to dispose of some grease about 9:15 p.m., just after closing hours. One of the men put a shotgun to the employee's head and ordered him to let them inside.
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The men came in the kitchen door and made their way to the office, where another employee was counting the day's receipts. The robber with a shotgun ordered three employees to get on the floor and not call police. The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash and ran out the back door.
The employees told police they heard a gunshot as soon as the robbers left.
One of the employees told officers he recognized one of the robbers as a former employee, Jerry William Simmons. Police said Simmons was located at the apartment complex where he lived and took him into custody about 11:15 p.m. Officers said some cash was also recovered.
On Sunday, officers searching the area between the restaurant and the apartment complex found a sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun similar to the one used in the robbery. Later that day, they said officers found a duffel bag containing a handgun and a ski mask.
?I am grateful that nobody was shot or injured," Starke Police Chief Jeff Johnson said. "To put a shotgun to the back of anyone?s head is a dangerous life-threatening act. My patrol officers had enough knowledge of Simmons that they were able to make a quick arrest, but there is still a dangerous felon out there and we need the citizens to help us.?
Anyone with any information about the second man in the robber or the case is asked to call investigator James Hooper or Capt. Roman Alvarez at 904-964-5400.