Sutter Creek's city council meeting Monday night was suddenly interrupted when police Chief Rob Duke rushed out the door. In an instant, his SUV's siren was blaring as he raced to provide mutual aid to police officers responding to an armed robbery call at Papa Murphy's Pizza in south Jackson.
It was just after 8 p.m. when an unidentified male entered Papa Murphy's and set his sights on a lone employee working at the front counter. The two closest businesses, Allied Cash Advance and Payless Shoe Source, were both closed with their lights off. The mysterious figure demanded money, simulating a weapon beneath his clothing. The employee turned over an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and watched as the suspect fled the scene.
Jackson police units arrived at approximately 8:11 p.m. They, along with Duke and units from the Amador County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol, quickly fanned out in an attempt to collar the escaping suspect. Despite a thorough search, the robber managed to disappear.
Employees at the only business within the shopping center open during the robbery, Raley's Supermarket, did not have a clear view of Papa Murphy's from inside the store and were unaware the crime took place. However, at least one Raley's employee working the same shift reported seeing a suspicious male enter shortly before the robbery.
Without commenting on specifics, Jackson police Capt. Christy Stidger said an investigation was well underway. "Anyone with information should call us," she said Tuesday afternoon. "But right now we do have some leads in the case."
| Scott Thomas Anderson |