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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 23, 2001
BROOKSVILLE -- A man walked into the Ye Olde Fireside Inn at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, ordered a drink from the bar and sat down at a table. Several people were eating nearby. After a few moments, the man walked toward two employees in a hallway and opened his jacket. A gun rested inside.
"Take me to the money," he told them, according to the Brooksville Police Department. The employees took him to the cash register. The man pulled out his gun. He pointed it at one employee. "Give me the money," he ordered, according to police.
She did. The man told her to lie down on the floor or he would shoot her, according to police.
The man collected the money and left the restaurant, police said. The other patrons apparently did not know what was happening, and no one was injured, police said.
The Sheriff's Office brought one of its dogs, Simba, to the restaurant at 1175 S Broad St. in Brooksville to find where the robber had gone, but the dog could not pick up the track.
Brooksville police Sgt. Ron Woods said he is investigating whether the robbery is related to two others Friday night on Commercial Way in Spring Hill. Woods said he is searching for a suspect.
Woods described the suspect as a white male about 35 years old, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. The man was of medium build, had dark hair and a mustache. Anyone with information can call Woods at 754-6800.
Terry Bloxsom, manager of the restaurant, said Monday that employees would not comment to the Times because they did not want to hamper the investigation.
-- Staff writer Jamie Jones covers law enforcement and the courts in Hernando County. She can be reached at 754-6114. Send e-mail to jjones@sptimes.com