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Employees Injured, Locked In Office, During Armed Robbery at El Ranchero Mexican Restaurant

Last updated on Friday, November 13, 2015

(BLOOMINGTON) - Bloomington Police say two employees at El Ranchero Mexican restaurant were locked in a back office during an armed robbery Wednesday night.

Police were called to the restaurant, at 2100 S. Liberty Drive, at 11:09 p.m.

The employees told police they had been in the front of the restaurant when two men asked if they could come inside to use the restroom. The restaurant was closed for the night, but the employees allowed them to come inside.

According to Bloomington Police Capt. Joe Qualters, the men came out of the restroom armed with a semi-automatic pistol. They then demanded all off the money out of the cash register.

A female employee told police that one of the men grabbed her arm and pushed her into a wall, while another man emptied the cash register. The robbers then forced the employees into a back office and demanded the money out of the safe. A male employee told the robbers they didn't know the combination and that is when one of the robbers shoved the man's head into the safe three to four times.

The robbers found an envelope of money and took that along with video surveillance equipment before locking the employees in the back office.

The male employee suffered pain and a bump on his head. The female employee that was grabbed and shoved into the wall complained of pain. Both were taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for treatment.

Police are looking for a two tall, skinny and dark-skinned black men in their 20s. The man armed with the gun was reportedly wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and brown work boots. The second man wore a gray sweatshirt, black sweatpants and black shoes. Both men wore baseball hats and had the hoods of their sweatshirts pulled up.

Anyone with information can call the Bloomington Police Department at (812) 339-4477.

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