San Diego

Suspect Robs Thai Restaurant at Gunpoint

Someone robbed a Thai restaurant in La Jolla at gunpoint Monday night.

Someone robbed a Thai restaurant in La Jolla at gunpoint Monday night and a witness was put on hold when he tried to alert San Diego Police to the suspicious activity, according to one resident.

Bill Bottin lives right around the corner from the Chedi Thai Bistro restaurant on Pearl Street and Mabel Bell Lane. He said he was returning home from dinner when he stopped and talked with a man who had witnessed someone lurking around the liquor store next to the restaurant.

The next morning, Bottin learned there had been a robbery at the location.

San Diego Police say a suspect went in the back of the Thai restaurant and into the kitchen at 9 p.m. He then showed a handgun and robbed employees at gunpoint.

Bottin said he wonders if something could have been done to prevent the crime.

"The fact that he made a 911 non-emergency call but it was on hold for at least 15 minutes," Bottin said of the man who called for help. "If we could've done something more." 

Police say the robbery suspect ran away with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was hurt.

The suspect is described to be in his 20s, 5-feet, 8-inches tall. He was described as wearing a gray long sleep shirt, brown shorts, and white shoes.

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