Restaurant workers tied up at gunpoint ‘Still in shock’

LAKEVILLE, Minnesota (FOX 9) – Lee Petersen said he was still trying to process what happened Monday night at his restaurant, Red Fox Tavern, near Lakeville.

“It was very emotional. Today was bad. Last night we were more like ‘I can’t believe this is happening’ and today we faced the truth,” Petersen said.

While Petersen and an employee were closing the restaurant early to install a new computer system, an armed robber dressed all in black arrived at the bar shortly after the last customers had left.

READ MORE: 2 MN restaurant employees zip tied during armed robbery

Petersen said the man pointed the gun at himself and his employee and told them to kneel on the floor, then ordered them to zip tie their arms together while taping their legs together.

“Obviously it was very scary, but we were relieved to know that neither of us were here alone,” Petersen said.

Over the next 15 to 20 minutes, the man repeatedly asked where the money and the safe were, while his knit mask with a fake beard made it difficult for Petersen to distinguish his facial features, Petersen said.

Peterson says the man eventually told the two not to move until 10:25 p.m. and left.

“We’re both still in shock. We’re both very grateful that some of our other employees who are here are not here,” Petersen said.

From now on, Peterson says he will keep the employee’s door locked, add more security, and change closing protocols to prevent something like this from happening again.

“It’s an eye-opener for our community to feel like it’s safe and it’s a world-class place to live. This happened in our backyard,” Petersen said.

Petersen said he has surveillance video that he hopes will help identify the suspect.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about the crime to contact them at 952-445-1411 or submit a tip online Here.