From the Parkersburg News and Sentinel of November 24, 2005
Employee thwarts robbery attempt
Police are searching for a robbery suspect who attempted to rob a local business Wednesday morning but abandoned his plan when an employee said he too had a gun.
Parkersburg police Capt. Steve Flinn said the attempted robbery of the Owl's Nest at 1217 Garfield Ave. occurred at 7:12 a.m.
"A man walked in wearing a ski mask and had his hands in his pockets claiming to have a gun," Flinn said. "At that time the employee on duty said, 'I have one, too.'"
Flinn said the suspect turned and fled the establishment on foot after the employee showed his firearm.
Nothing was taken and the suspect has not been apprehended, Flinn said. A description of the suspect was unavailable.
Police Chief George Fox said what happened Wednesday is not something the police suggest store clerks or others do in a similar situation, although they have a right to defend themselves.
"It's kind of a double-edged sword," Fox said. "It could go either way. I understand he (the employee) had a permit for the gun. I'm not sure if he brandished the gun or just said he had one."
Fox said in his 34 years on the police force he has heard of a few similar situations in Parkersburg, but none have turned tragic.
"Sometimes you see something like this where both sides have a gun and they just start shooting," he said. "It's not worth the potential consequences. Money is an inanimate object; you can always make more."
Fox said the stress of a robbery situation could take a turn for the worst.
"There's always the potential that the person has a gun and it's hard to tell what they would do if challenged," he said.
"The clerk must have a lot of self control. Stress does funny things to people.
"I see the potential for disaster in that type of situation."
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