DENTON, Texas — Denton police said a man attempted to rob a pizza restaurant Friday night, but one of the store’s employees fought back and then three citizens stepped in to make sure the suspect and his accomplices went to jail.
The man walked into the Pizza Patron in the 100 block of E. University Drive around 10:30 p.m
The clerk, 17-year-old Rudy Sandoval, said he was going to give the suspect the money but decided to fight back when he got slapped.
“I ran up on him right here,” Sandoval said as he described the fight. “I just stuck him two or three good times right here. He just dropped right there and started snoring.”
Ramirez was passed out for several minutes but regained consciousness and was able to get up and run from the restaurant.
Ramirez’ weapon turned out to be a toy.
Police arrested Ramirez, Jose Martinez, 26, and Sonia Palacios, 38.
Credit: FOX 4 News
UPDATE: 07/24/08
A Denton pizza worker said she was surprised when a fellow employee overpowered a would-be robber — and even more surprised by who the bad guy turned out to be.
When she saw the face behind the wig and dark glasses, “I dropped the money,” Ms. Martinez said. “I said, ‘Don’t hit him again! That’s my dad!’ And he said, ‘What’s he doing here?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know!’ ”
Mr. Sandoval, 17, said on the “Today” show that he’d been warned in his training not to fight back if there was ever a robbery attempt. “They always told me, give them the money,” he said.
But the burly teen said he instinctively reacted once the suspect slapped him.
“He tested me, so I did it,” he said.
Denton police say they don’t think Ms. Martinez knew her family was planning the robbery.
“We … will not be filing charges against her,” Sgt. James Brett said. “Her husband told us she didn’t know. He knew they were going to rob someplace, but he thought it was going to be a convenience store.”
Surveillance video shows the robber as he came into the restaurant about 10:25 p.m., pointing a silver gun that turned out to be a toy, according to a police report.
Credit: DONNA FIELDER / Denton Record-Chronicle
UPDATED: 1/1/2010
Video made it on The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s Dumbest Criminals. Go Rudy!