By Kathleen Berger
St. Charles, MO (KSDK) - St. Charles police are investigating an attempted robbery with a surprising twist. The woman working at the cleaners that was targeted let the guy have it using a seam ripper. Police say it was a weapon of opportunity.
Just after 1 p.m. Wednesday a man entered First Capitol Cleaners in 1000 block of First Capitol Drive.
Police say the suspect's right hand was under his jacket, with the appearance of having a concealed weapon. Police say he was demanding money. The worker refused to give it to him, so police say he reached over the counter for the register with his left hand. That's when the worker stabbed him in the back of his left hand with a seam ripper.
The man immediately took off on foot with the woman chasing him out the door and down the street.
This woman does not want to be interviewed by the media, but her coworkers say that she knows the seam ripper penetrated the man's hand, because she felt it. Police say the suspect was wearing gloves, so she didn't see how deeply she wounded him.
Police say they don't recommend anyone taking action the way she did. They say she's lucky she did not get hurt.
"She chased him probably about 50 yards east towards the bank and he turned right down Oak Street. And she actually had the telephone from the business with her and she was losing contact with the police department and our dispatchers advised to return to the business, not to pursue him any further," said Lt. Mike Akers with the St. Charles Police Department.
Because the suspect concealed his face with clothing and sunglasses, police say the woman didn't get a good look at him. St. Charles police say they have active leads on this criminal, and they're investigating.
KSDK