Restaurant owner wields knife to confront robbers

Two men who attempted to stick up a Carson City restaurant Sunday afternoon were chased off by a knife-wielding owner.

According to the police report, just before 6 p.m. the two Hispanic men walked into the El Torito Bakery and Butcher Shop on Winnie Lane and picked up a 12-pack of beer from the cooler.

The clerk told police that as the men approached the front counter, one of them pulled out a pistol and pointed it at her, demanding money.

When the clerk said she didn't have the key to the register, one of the men walked around the counter, grabbed her by her neck and smashed her face into the register, telling her to open it.

Hearing her screams, her boss, Hector Cruz, ran out from the back of the store with "large knife."

"He came out because he heard (the clerk) crying," said Cruz's daughter Patricia.

When the robbers saw Hector, they pointed the gun at him and told him "not to cause any problems.

"And then they left. They ran away," said Patricia Cruz.

The bandits did not get any money.

This is the second time the small family-owned restaurant has been robbed.

"We work hard, we stay here all day, and it's really sad and worrisome, because you never know what's going to happen," she said.

One of the men is described as about 6-feet-1-inch tall, with black hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, black shoes and a black hat. The second man is described as 5-feet-9-inches tall with black hair. He was wearing a collared gray shirt with horizontal white stripes, tan shorts and white shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Daniel Gonzales at 887-2020 ext. 41407.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.