6/05/09 Downtown Bend
 
by Ariel Wesler
 
Surveillance cameras capture the crime.  At 7:30 Thursday evening, this masked man bursts behind the bar at Corey's bar and grill in Downtown Bend--points a gun at the employees and demands cash.  He then turns the gun on the customers and orders them to the ground.  This is the closest shot of the suspect as he leaves the building with a pouch full of cash.  The entire robbery took just over a minute.
 
"I think it's always in the back of your head that something like this could happen, but until it happens you don't know if you're prepared or not and I think we handled it well and i'm proud of my employees," said Corey Weathers, the owner.
 
No shots were fired and no one was injured.  Meanwhile, outside. . .The suspect fled the scene on foot.  Bend Police blocked off bond street between Minnesota and Oregon but couldn't find him.  As police cars filled the street, so did spectators."We were anxious.  We were nervous to see what was going on," said Ken Clark, a witness.
 
Friday, employees at corey's bar and grill returned to work--unsettled, but showing support.
"My employees are behind us and our patrons have been coming in.  I've gotten 30 phone calls today from all my family and friends," Weathers said.
 
Police are calling the suspect armed and dangerous.  If captured, he faces charges of robbery, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, and theft.
 
Anyone with more information about the robbery is asked to contact the Bend Police Department.
 
 
6/04/09 Downtown Bend
 
by Ariel Wesler
 
It's the second armed robbery in two days for Central Oregon businesses.  Wednesday night, this quik stop was hit on Highway 97 in La Pine. Just after 7:30 Thursday night, a man bursts into Corey's Bar and Grill, robbing it at gunpoint.  Bend police and other law enforcement officials quickly surrounded the area.
 
"Five directly down here or so.  Another four or five on the outer perimeter," said Lt. Paul Kansky with the Bend Police Deparment.
 
 
Police cars lined the street and so did spectators--enjoying their evening--now suddenly finding themselves in the middle of a pursuit.
 
"This police officer here pulled up, stopped at this stop sign with his lights on and hopped out of his car with his gun in his hand.  He just said, 'Move off the curb.  Move off the sidewalk.  Move to the other side of the street,'" said Ken Clark, a witness.
 
 
The suspect got away on foot, but it's unclear what was taken.  Police blocked off bond between Minnesota and Greenwood for about 45 minutes.
 
 
"We were nervous.  We were curious to see what was going on," Clark said.
 
 
At this point, not many details have been released.  Officers are searching for a white male.  An employee at the bar and grill said the suspect was heavy set and wearing a black mask.  Police officials say no injuries were reported and no shots fired.
 
 
"When you have an armed subject leave a business, I'd say, at least for a short order, everybody's in some danger," Kansky said.
 
Corey's does have surveillance video of the incident--which could help police catch their suspect.
 
The bar and grill has reopened.  Police are still questioning witnesses.  They're asking anyone with more information about the robbery to contact the Bend Police Department.