BRANDON — Brandon police are looking for the public’s help in locating the person or persons who robbed a Brandon storeowner recently.
Police Chief Christopher Brickell said in a press release that a man entered Union Street Grocery at about 8 p.m. on Oct. 28 brandishing a weapon and demanding cash from the register. Storeowner Raj Mastaram was working alone behind the register when the incident took place, and there was one customer in the store at the time. Witnesses said two other customers entered the store as the robbery took place. There were no injuries.
Police say the suspect made off with no more than $40 and fled the scene on foot. Mastaram chased the suspect for a short distance until losing sight of him.
Police would not identify the kind of weapon the suspect used saying it would jeopardize the investigation.
The suspect is described as male, approximately six feet tall with a large build. He was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and light-colored pants and sneakers. His face was covered as well. His race is unknown.
Brickell said there are no suspects at this time, and there is conflicting information about the case.
“There’s some good information and some information that is just being made up,” he said.
Another strange piece of the puzzle is that witnesses said the suspect fled into the woods near St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Carver Street, but police dogs released in the area following the robbery did not pick up any human scent at that location, Brickell said.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Brandon Police Department at 247-0222.