Former employee arrested in McDonald's armed robbery

WESTMONT, Pa. (WJAC) -- a man is now in prison, facing several charges after police say he robbed a McDonald’s in Johnstown Saturday night.

It happened at the McDonald’s on Plaza Drive in Lower Yoder Township.

Police say former employee, 31-year-old Christopher Braswell Jr., robbed the restaurant right before closing, about 20 minutes before 11.

According to the criminal complaint, the general manager told police Braswell was fired from that McDonald’s on Saturday after being suspect in two other theft-related incidents at the restaurant.

Later that night, while employees were preparing to close, police say Braswell first assaulted a young man mopping the floor, then pushed him over the counter.

Police say Braswell then put his handgun against the employee's head, also pointing it at three other employees, forcing all four to go to the back office where the safe was.

Police say he ordered the manager to remove deposits and cash from the safe and ordered the man he assaulted to remove cash from the money drawers.

Police say he ran out of the back door toward Minno Drive.

Today he was arrested in the Oakhurst section of Johnstown, with the help of city of Johnstown police.

Capt. George Musulin says this is the first armed robbery in several years in the area, but says crime knows no boundaries.

Braswell has not confessed to robbing the restaurant.

Police are still waiting to receive security footage from McDonald’s and other businesses nearby.

But the criminal complaint does say the general manager recognized Braswell's clothing after watching surveillance video.

The man who was assaulted also ID’d Braswell.

"The employee that was assaulted and thrown over the counter made a positive ID on the subject by recognizing his voice, whereas he had worked with this individual for approximately three to four months prior to the armed robbery," Musulin said.

Braswell was taken to the Cambria County Prison. He's being charged with several felonies, including armed robbery, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault and terroristic threats.

Police say he got away with $4,583. Neither the money nor the gun have been recovered.

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