By Nathan Owens
Staff writer
EL DORADO — A masked man with a handgun robbed the Kentucky Fried Chicken in El Dorado on Sunday night and El Dorado police are still searching for the suspect, officials said.
At 8 p.m. a man trespassed into the KFC located at 433 W. Hillsboro St., stole money from the restaurant and escaped before police arrived. The man was carrying a handgun and gained entry through the back door while employees were closing the restaurant, said Cullen Smith, KFC restaurant owner.
“It’s a simple issue of incorrect closing procedures,” Smith said. “We had a person prop open the back door with a trashcan and the guy was able to gain entry.”
According to police, the suspect entered and left the restaurant through the same door and escaped with an unknown sum of cash.
Local police responded and questioned witnesses about the incident.
Police said the suspect had his face partially covered and wore dark coveralls, a blue hoodie, yellow gloves, dark boots, and carried a bag.
After stealing the money, he fled on foot in the southeast direction, said Capt. Kevin Holt of the El Dorado Police Department.
No employees were hurt or threatened by the suspect at gunpoint, Smith said.
“There wasn’t a gun put to anyone’s head. No fighting. Certainly they got some money, but I don’t care as long as my employees are safe,” he said. “From the moment he came into the restaurant, my employees did everything correct. He told them to give him money and then he left and no one got hurt.”
According to police, there is no connection between this incident and the robbery at Peoples Bank in Magnolia on Tuesday.
No damage occurred at the restaurant.
“This is the first time it’s happened,” Smith said. “And this will be the last.”
Anyone with information regarding the case can contact the El Dorado Police Department at 870-881-4800.
Nathan Owens is a staff writer for the El Dorado News-Times and can be reached at 870-862-6611 or via email: [email protected]. For news updates follow him on Twitter: nowensednt.