Deputies from the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office arrested a
San Juan Bautista man Monday on suspicion of stealing the tip jar
and threatening to shoot a customer at Togo’s on the 1700 block of
Airline Highway.
Deputies from the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office arrested a San Juan Bautista man Monday on suspicion of stealing the tip jar and threatening to shoot a customer at Togo’s on the 1700 block of Airline Highway.
After buying and eating a sandwich at the restaurant, Rion Redko, 21, was accused of taking the tip jar – which had $3 inside – and demanding a woman’s wallet twice before fleeing, according to witness reports. Redko threatened that he would shoot the woman if she didn’t give him the wallet.
When the woman declined, he left, said Capt. David Westrick of the Hollister Police Department, which responded to the crime and then referred the case to the sheriff’s office.
Westrick was unsure if the suspect had a gun at the time of the incident.
It occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Monday with a few customers inside, Westrick said. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Redko, who was on parole for an unrelated crime, in San Juan Bautista around 7 p.m. Monday.
Redko was identified by customers and workers, who said they personally knew him, Westrick said.
“Police walked in and they told us who he was,” Westrick said. “Several people inside knew him.”
Redko was booked into the San Benito County Jail on suspicion of petty theft, attempted robbery and violating parole.
