CLOVIS (KMJ) — A man is behind bars this morning after trying to hold up a Denny's with a small pair of scissors.
It all happened Sunday night – at the branch on Shaw and Willow in Clovis.
Witnesses say Eric Ross walked in and announced he had a gun – but that wasn't strictly accurate – as Sergeant Vince Weibert explains:
"He said that he had a firearm. He had something in his waistband which some people believed was a gun but turned out to be a flashlight. But the weapon he brandished was a pair of scissors – and he used that go ahead and affect the robbery".
The 36 year old from Chowchilla then used a customer's cell phone to call 911 – on himself.
"If you're the person on the other side of that pair of scissors – it's a scary thing to have brandished at you", says Sergeant Weibert. "Is it a weapon that's frequently used in robberies? Not necessarily".
Officers arrived while he was still on the phone with 911 – but he fought with the officers while patrons were fleeing the restaurant. He was eventually arrested – and it was confirmed he didn't actually have a gun.
No one was hurt – and Ross is now behind bars on charges including armed robbery and criminal threats.
