DPD Officer At Donut Shop Witnesses Robbery, Catches 1 Suspect
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - An off-duty Dallas police officer stops by a donut shop and stumbles into a robbery in progress.
Police Officer Christopher Berry was in full police uniform as he headed to an off-duty job. But Berry soon knew things weren't right when he stopped the Joy Donut Shop in the 3500 block of Simpson Stuart Road.
The officer hadn't even gotten out of his vehicle when he noticed two men, both with black hoods pulled over their faces and white socks on their hands, hiding near the donut shop. Officials say Berry suspected a robbery was about to occur, so he stayed inside his vehicle and watched as the men entered the business.
Surveillance video inside the store captured the robbers as they each tried to rip cash registers from the counter. One suspect was able to snatch a register, but the donut shop owner ran out and was able to stop the other suspect from stealing a second. The owner was assaulted during the struggle.
Meanwhile, Officer Berry had moved to a safe position behind his vehicle and when the suspects ran out of the store he yelled, "Dallas Police stop". The suspect carrying the stolen cash register kept running. The empty-handed suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Kristopher Jones, stopped and surrendered.
"I feel like they just be watching us… to see when it's easier for them to come and rob," says Maria Ortega, an employee at the shop. She says the store has been targeted three times since August-- in spite of the police station nearby. "There's be like maybe two or three [police officers] coming in there and just sitting there and making sure everything's okay."
Police are still searching for the second suspect, but did find the stolen cash register in a nearby field. They're also taking a fresh look into the earlier thefts. "Circumstances are similar and we will be investigating to see if we can connect these suspects to that offense," explained Major Max Geron, with Dallas police.
As the video shows, neither man brandished a weapon during the robbery and none were found at the store or on the arrested suspect.
And while police officials admit that jokes about the cop catching a robber while on a doughnut run will be hard to avoid. They're just asking that that we remember: at least one of the suspects isn't laughing. "The choices that he [Officer Berry] made resulted in a safe resolution. The store owner struck on the way out, he was not seriously injured. And one suspect was captured, so good work by this officer," says Major Geron.
Anyone who can identify or has information about the second suspect or the robbery is asked to contact Detective Butler at 214.671.3584. Tips can also be anonymously submitted via the iWatch Dallas app or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-877-373-TIPS (8477).
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