An armed robber held up the Dairy Queen on North Bridge Avenue in Albert Lea Thursday night, tying up two clerks and escaping with cash from the store’s register and safe, police said.

Friday, April 05, 2002

An armed robber held up the Dairy Queen on North Bridge Avenue in Albert Lea Thursday night, tying up two clerks and escaping with cash from the store’s register and safe, police said.

Nobody was injured in the robbery.

Witnesses said the man, a white male around 5 feet, 2 inches tall, entered the restaurant right before the 9:30 closing time. He was wearing an orange ski mask, a black leather jacket, black pants and Nike shoes.

He pointed a black .22 caliber pistol at the female clerk and ordered her to tie up the other clerk with tape, police said. The robber then handed the clerk a bag and told her to place the money inside. He then tied up the female clerk with tape and fled.

One of the clerks escaped the tape and called 911 at 9:47 p.m.

Customers who were leaving the store right before the robber entered reported seeing a maroon SUV at the scene, and police believe it may have been the robber’s vehicle.

Police are investigating the robbery.