WHEELING - Although he allegedly used a toy gun in a robbery attempt Sunday at a city pizza parlor, Robert Pasquale reportedly has been known to carry real firearms.
Troy Albert Pasquale was being held Monday in the Northern Regional Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery. The 40-year-old Wheeling man is accused in an armed robbery attempt shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday at Vocelli Pizza at 1127 Market St. After allegedly waiving a pistol and demanding money, Pasquale was taken down by a pair of the store's employees and held until police arrived.
The pistol used in the robbery attempt was later found to be a toy. However, Pasquale was arrested in January by Wheeling police on a charge of carrying a dangerous weapon. According to that criminal complaint, Pasquale was found to be carrying a handgun during a traffic stop. He also was charged with possession of drugs and driving under a license suspension.
During Sunday's robbery attempt, police said, Vocelli Manager Shawn Watson hit Pasquale with a stapler after the suspect began grabbing at the cash register. The suspect attempted to leave, but he was knocked to the floor and disarmed by Watson and store employee Steve Gandee. Police arrived, and the suspect was transported to the jail.
On Monday, Watson said the robbery attempt was the first on his watch.
"He came up and was messing with the register, and he was putting the pistol away," Watson said. "He had both hands on (the register), and I thought it was time to react."
Gandee suffered an arm injury in the fracas, and he sought treatment at a local hospital. Watson said Gandee is OK.
"I think when we brought him down (Gandee) fell on (his arm)," Watson said. "He didn't break it or anything. He is doing OK."
On Monday, Wheeling Police Chief Kevin Gessler said he was glad the situation ended without serious injuries. He added that he would prefer that victims follow the demands of robbers in such situations.
"It's tough to be critical after the fact," Gessler said. "We recommend victims give whatever the individual wants so it eliminates the potential for violence. In this case it worked out OK, but that's not necessarily the norm."