Victim of Fast Food BB Gun Holdup Now A Suspect

A victim in the armed robbery of in Ferndale early Sunday morning is now a suspect, Ferndale Police said.

Ferndale Police, after an investigation by detective Brendan Moore, have arrested a third suspect who was working at Wendy's during the time of the crime, Ferndale Lt. Detective William Wilson said. 

 The armed robbery took place around 1 a.m. Sunday morning and resulted in two arrests and the discovery that the weapon used in the crime was a bb handgun.

The initial story, provided to police by the Wendy's manager on duty at the time and another Wendy's employee, was that an armed robber approached the employee while the employee was taking the trash out through the back door. The armed robber put the gun to the victim's chest and forced him inside the building, Wilson said.

The robber then ordered the manager to give up the cash from the safe, Wilson said. The robber then fled on foot.

Ferndale Police dispatched to the area immediately after the manager reported the crime noticed a Pontiac Grand Am with an improper plate. The officers pulled the vehicle over and found a suspect matching the manager's description of the gunman. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found a bb handgun and $1,500 in cash.

Yet, Moore's investigation into the incident revealed that the employee taking out the trash may have participated in the crime by phoning the armed robber as the employee opened the backdoor.

All three suspects are Detroit residents, Wilson said. The two initially arrested for the crime were 19 years old and the third, the Wendy's employee, is 18 years old.

The three suspects will be arraigned this afternoon in 43rd District Court in Ferndale and warrants for armed robbery -- a life offense, Wilson said -- have been issued for all three.