Employees Accused Of Robbing McKnight Restaurant Headed To Trial

ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa.,None — Four employees accused of robbing Qdoba Mexican Grill on McKnight Road in February are headed to trial.

Police said initial information led them to believe that the robbery was committed by someone familiar with the restaurant. After further investigation, officers said, they discovered that four employees conspired to steal money from the restaurant themselves.

Investigators said Charles Elstner, 19, of Reserve, Michael McElroy, 18, Bellevue, William Fichter, 18, of West View and a juvenile female ransacked the restaurant and threw a large stone through the window to stage the burglary scene.

"One of the individuals felt he was being fired and because he thought he was being fired, he decided on his way out, he would steal the money from the safe. When we interviewed the managers at Qdoba, he wasn't going to be fired. That was just an internal rumor," said Det. Brian Kohlhepp.

All four people are charged with conspiracy, theft and criminal mischief. Police said they stole more than $1,300 and caused about $500 in damages.

The manager of the restaurant told Channel 11 News that all four employees have been fired.

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