Police capture suspect quickly after armed robbery at restaurant

An armed robbery suspect is in custody after holding employees of a Grove Center business at gunpoint and leading Oak Ridge police on a brief foot pursuit Tuesday evening, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department got a call at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, that an armed robbery had just occurred at the Hibachi Burger restaurant at 138 Randolph Road in Grove Center.

The person calling 911 said a man armed with a pistol and a bandana covering his face had demanded money from the business. The caller said the suspect took an undetermined amount of cash and then ran out of the restaurant.

Multiple police units immediately responded to the scene, setting up a perimeter around the area, said the press release, which was from the City of Oak Ridge. The owner of the business told officers that he chased the suspect for a short time before they arrived.

At approximately 6:28 p.m., a man matching the description of the suspect was spotted by officers on Hamilton Circle. A foot pursuit began, and the suspect was taken into custody just a few minutes later on Hillside Road.

“This is a prime example of how a coordinated patrol strategy comes together to set a fluid perimeter, which allowed us to close off avenues of escape and reduce the area that the suspect had to hide,” Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi said. “Fortunately, our night shift team was coming into work in their marked patrol vehicles and were able to immediately divert and respond to apprehend the suspect.”

This incident is still under investigation by the Oak Ridge Police Department. Charges against the suspect are forthcoming. No other information will be released at this time, the press release said.