Robbery foiled by alarm

Jacksonville police say an armed robber was foiled Tuesday night by employees of the U.S. 17 Bojangles when a sounding alarm forced the man to leave empty handed.

Tyrone Faison, 26, of Drake Court in Wilmington, was picked up by police and identified by employees a short time later, said Capt. Tim Malfitano of the Jacksonville Police Department.

Faison was charged with attempted armed robbery and seven counts of second-degree kidnapping. His bond was set at $225,000.

Police say Faison entered the restaurant at around 10 p.m. with his left hand wrapped in black cloth and made motions like he had a pistol. He told employees to go to the back of the restaurant and jumped the counter.

One employee ran out the back door and triggered the restaurant's alarm. Once the alarm began to sound, Faison jumped back over the counter and left the store with no cash, Malfitano said.

The responding officers put out a description of a suspect, and Faison was stopped in Holly Ridge by police there. Malfitano said four witnesses made a positive identification of Faison as the armed robber.

"Faison has a history of armed robbery with a case still pending in Wilmington," Malfitano said.

Faison was previously convicted of larceny of a motor vehicle and communicating threats, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.