Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 26, 1992 TAG: 9203260252
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: AVIS THOMAS-LESTER THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
At banana-point.
A suspect was nabbed a few minutes later at a second gas station nearby, where he had stopped to fill his tank.
In the car, police said, they found some clothing the holdup man was said to have worn and the smoking banana. It was slightly overripe, officers said.
"That's how he did the robbery - with a banana wrapped in a scarf," said Kim D. Chinn, a police spokeswoman.
But to the 38-year-old Texaco attendant, that slightly overripe banana could have been a shiny Beretta, so he handed over the cash - $120 - and watched as the man split.
Police identified their suspect as Douglas Ragland, 34, of Dumfries, and said he was a disgruntled former employee of the station. Ragland is charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony - never mind that it was a tropical fruit he is alleged to have wielded.
"The evidence shows that this was a legitimate robbery and the intent was to steal and put the person in fear," said Chief Charlie T. Deane, the Police Department's top banana.
"We're not sure if we'll be able to prosecute the case," Commonwealth's Attorney Paul B. [not for Banana] Ebert said. "We are concerned someone might eat the evidence."
Taking no chances, police planned to photograph it.
by CNB