California police are investigating after an armed man allegedly stole chicken, waffles and syrup from a soul food restaurant after refusing service for not wearing a face mask.
Employees at a Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles store in Pasadena told ABC7 that a man entered the establishment shortly after 5:30 pm on Wednesday and tried to order food. However, as he was not wearing a mask according to the safety recommendations of COVID-19, the cashier did not take his order and told him to return with a facial cover.
The man left Roscoe’s and went back to the car, but according to officials and surveillance footage, he soon reentered the restaurant’s back door with a firearm.
“He comes right at me with a gun, pointing at me and saying, ‘Put all the chicken in the bag,'” cook Robert Gonzalez told ABC7’s Veronica Miracle.
The suspect – who still didn’t wear a mask – instructed kitchen staff to stuff a bag with chicken and waffles from the iconic Los Angeles restaurant chain, officials said.
“He didn’t take any money,” said location manager Angela Prieto to ABC7. “Actually, he got chicken and, before he left the door, he got chicken syrup.”
“We are following active investigative leads in this case,” Pasadena Police Department spokeswoman Carolyn Gordon told BuzzFeed News on Thursday. Although the suspect stole only food, she said, “We consider it a crime.”
Authorities are still looking for the suspect and asking the public to contact the police if they have any information.
BuzzFeed News contacted Roscoe’s corporate management for comment.