Police: BK Robbers Used .45 Pistol with Extended Mag, Box Cutter to Threaten Victims

An affidavit of probable cause reveals new details of of a Conshohocken Burger King. As previously reported by Patch, three Philadelphia men were taken into custody after police say they robbed the restaurant, located at 409 Ridge Pike, using a pistol.

According to the affidavit, the restaurant's manager was pushing boxes out of a rear door of the store when an individual, later identified as Charles Robinson, 32, of 736 North 38th Street, approached him with a gun. Robinson then pushed the manager into the restaurant, and forced him and a second employee onto the floor, the report said.

After taking $150 from the employee's pocket, Robinson motioned for a second suspect, Edward Cottle, 30, of 2938 Westmont Street, to come into the restaurant. Upon entering, Cottle grabbed a box cutter knife and held it to the employee, as Robinson took the store's manager to the store's safe and told him to open it. When the store manager repeatedly stated that he did not know the safe's combination, Robinson allegedly told him that "if you don't open the safe, I'll blow your [expletive] head off."

Meanwhile, Cottle forced the second employee to open the front and drive thru registers. After the employee complied, Cottle forced him into the store's meat freezer, while Robinson forced the manager into the produce freezer, the report said. The suspects took both of the employees’ cell phones from the front counter and collected a number of items from the store before fleeing.

Upon hearing the back door of the restaurant click, the store's manager was able to kick at the freezer door, removing a handle and freeing himself. After also freeing the employee from the meat freezer, the manager called Plymouth Township police and alerted them of the robbery.

While responding officers were clearing the restaurant, they received a radio report that a Conshohocken Police officer had pulled over a red Ford Taurus traveling at a high rate of speed on Fayette Street. According to the officer, the suspects in the vehicle matched a description put out over county radio, prompting him to initiate the traffic stop.

A further investigation determined that Cottle was driving the Taurus, while a third accomplice, James McDuffie, Jr., 33, of 3722 Wallace Street, was riding in the front passenger seat. Robinson was situated in the backseat and sweating profusely, which he told the officer was due to him just completing a workout. A handgun located on the vehicle's backseat was also in plain view, according to the affidavit. Police also said Robinson gave the fake name of "Michael Smith."

Both the store's manager and employee were transported to the scene, and identified Cottle and Robinson as the store's robbers. Police also executed a search warrant of the vehicle and found a number of items, particularly discarded clothing, that linked the suspects to the crime, the affidavit said.

The firearm was identified as a model 1911a, .45-caliber handgun with an extended magazine. The gun's serial number had been altered to the point of being unreadable, police said. Police also found a number of cell phones inside the vehicle, and determined that the three men stole $399.26 in cash from the restaurant.

Cottle, Robinson and McDuffie have each been charged with robbery, terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime, assault, reckless endangerment, theft, altering serial numbers and related charges. None were able to post $250,000 bail and all three are currently being held at the Montgomery County Jail.

All three suspects are scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Francis J. Bernhardt III on Aug. 16 at 9:15 a.m.

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