Bradenton Police Looking for Suspect in Panda Buffet Robbery

The Bradenton Police Department is searching for a man accused of robbing the Panda Buffet Restaurant in the 3900 block of Manatee Avenue.

The man came into the restaurant just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday and asked for change for a dollar, according to a news release. The man then went behind the counter while brandishing a large knife and demanded money from the cash register.

After taking an undisclosed amount of money, the man ran east towards 39^th Street West. Bradenton Police detectives are currently searching for the suspect.

Captain Warren T. Merriman said that minutes befor robbing the restaurant, the suspect went into the in the Westgate shopping center, where he got the dollar bill he used to facilitate the robbery.

The suspect is described as a man between 6 feet to 6-foot-2, 180 to 200 pounds, wearing a light-colored T-shirt, blue jeans, and a pink/red baseball cap.  

Detectives ask that anyone with information in this case call at 941-932-9300; Detective James Curulla at 941-932-9311; or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477  or send an anonymous E-Tip through manateecrimestoppers.com