Dairy Queen Owner Held Hostage During Robbery Attempt: Police

LINCOLN CITY, OR — A Dairy Queen franchisee was briefly held hostage and used as a human shield during an attempted robbery in Lincoln City Sunday night, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

The alleged robber, 26-year-old Chase Allen Martin, was arrested and taken to the Lincoln County Jail on charges of kidnapping, robbery, attempted theft, and burglary. His bail is set at $295,000.

Lincoln City officers were dispatched to conduct a welfare check at the Dairy Queen Restaurant at 2224 N.E. Highway 101 just after 11 p.m. Feb. 18. The first officer on scene, Sgt. Randy Weaver, reportedly checked the building and spotted Martin.

After Martin saw Weaver, he reportedly fled further into the building and toward the back of the restaurant.

When Officer KC Claunts arrived, Weaver told him to check around the back. At the drive-thru window, Claunts found Martin wearing a black hoodie (with the hood up), black pants, a black bandana covering his face, and sunglasses, Claunts wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

Watching Martin try to open the drive-thru window, Claunts pulled his service pistol and ordered Martin to get on the ground. Instead, Martin chose to run toward the back of the Dairy Queen.

Peering through the backdoor window, Claunts reportedly saw Martin now holding the restaurant owner, Ill Woo Park, who was bleeding from his head.

Using Park as a human shield, Martin pushed the franchisee back toward the front of the Dairy Queen.

After returning to the drive-thru window and finding it unlocked, Claunts said he entered the restaurant and approached Martin from behind while two additional officers joined Weaver.

Surrounded, Martin was reportedly taken into custody without further incident.

On his person, Martin was reportedly carrying Park's wallet and car keys, as well as other items in various people's names, Claunts said.

Prior to police arrival, it appeared as though Martin cut the wires to the business' video surveillance and attempted to breach a safe holding $1,400 in cash, Claunts said, noting money from the registers and chairs were found strewn about the office area.

Martin has faced a plethora of charges for crimes committed in 16 separate incidents since 2010, including the one Feb. 18, court documents show. Of the 16 incidents, 10 include charges for theft.

Image via Lincoln County Sheriff's Office