ETNA GREEN - An Etna Green man is being held on $10,000 bond after allegedly robbing a diner.
Kosciusko County Sherrif's Department Deputy Sheriff Chris Rager was dispatched at 5:57 p.m. Wednesday to the Downtown Diner in Etna Green after a cashier called police and advised a man robbed the restaurant.The cashier stated a man wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, a black ski mask and carrying a "long gun" demanded money from the register. The cashier told police that the man said, "This is no joke, I'm robbing you," and "Give me all the money."
After the cashier filled a black and red gym bag with the money, the man fled on foot.
An Etna Green man, who was inside the diner at the time, told police he knew the robber as a Bryan Adam Carter, 19, of 113 W. Broadway St., Etna Green.
Another Etna Green woman in the diner at the time stated it was Carter and said, "He used to come into the diner a lot."
After an initial search of Carter's residence, police were advised by his mother, Catherine Burgo, that Carter did own a shotgun and showed police where it was kept.
The shotgun was found in a closet inside a soft gun case, photographed and shown to witnesses at the diner. One witness identified the shotgun as the one used in the robbery noting a broken butt plate on the weapon and the sling.
During their search for Carter, police were advised he drove a white Ford Escort with extensive damage on the driver's side. The vehicle was located by KCSD deputy James Marshall in an Etna Green trailer park with its headlights on and a black ski mask on the passenger seat.
At around 9:30 p.m., police received a call stating that Carter was standing outside his residence. Rager arrived to Carter's home and observed Carter standing in his driveway.
Rager then approached Carter at gunpoint and, according to a police report, asked Carter, "Why would I be looking for you tonight?"
In the report, Carter's alleged response was, "Because I robbed the diner tonight."
According to police, Carter told officers of a black gym bag with the money taken from the diner located inside his bedroom. Police retrieved the bag, which contained $82.80 in cash and change while $70 was taken from Carter.
According to police, Carter was put on suicide watch after statements he made while being questioned.
Carter was booked into Kosciusko County Jail at 10:40 p.m. Wednesday night on a charge of robbery while armed with a deadly weapon, a Class B felony.
