A local man was arrested Friday after he reportedly stole money out of the cash register at a Columbus restaurant and knocked an elderly customer to the ground while fleeing the establishment.
Shortly before 1 p.m. Friday, Columbus police officers responded to the Sirloin Stockade, 3114 N. National Road, about a report of a strong arm robbery that just occurred, said Lt Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
The suspect, who was later identified as Justin A. James, 29, of 16042 E. County Road 265N, approached a cashier and asked for change, Harris said. A short time later, James reportedly reached into the register and took an undisclosed amount of currency. While fleeing the restaurant, James knocked an 87-year-old woman to the ground. The woman sustained a facial laceration, injured her wrist, and was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.
On Friday evening, officers from the Columbus Police Department’s Intelligence Led Policing Unit observed James inside a vehicle. With the assistance of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the vehicle was stopped in the 200 block of Chestnut Street and James was placed under arrest.
James was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:
- Felony strong arm robbery
- Class A misdemeanor battery
- Class B misdemeanor battery
- Two Bartholomew County arrest warrants
James was being held in jail in lieu of $191,000 bond, jail officials said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
