MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A bystander foiled an attempted robbery at a Morgantown pub, disabling an armed suspect and restraining him until police arrived.
John Bendana, II, 26, of Morgantown, is charged with second degree robbery.
According to police, Bendana entered KD’s Pub & Grub on Brockway Avenue early Monday morning, with a mask over his face and a gun in his hand. He demanded money from the registers but that is when his robbery attempt was turned on its head.
“Patrons inside did not like the way he tried to commit an armed robbery and took matters into their own hands,” said Police Chief Ed Preston on WAJR’s Morgantown AM.
One of the patrons lunged toward Bendana, knocking the gun from his hand and taking Bendana to the ground. While Bendana was on the ground, the bartender sprayed him with pepper spray and the patrons restrained Bendana until officers arrived.
Officers later identified the weapon used in the foiled robbery attempt as an air soft gun.
Even though Preston commended the bystanders assertiveness, its not something he recommends if you find yourself in that situation.
“Absolutely don’t encourage it. Had this been a real firearm this could have been a total 180 of what kind of charges we are at or the could have been serious injuries or worse to the patrons.”
Bendana, who is currently being held at North Central Regional, has been in trouble with police before, according to Preston.