Man Breaks Into McKnight Road Coffee Shop Drive-thru Window, Grabs Cash

A man robbed the Island Bean Coffee Shop at 8035 McKnight Road Wednesday morning, entering through the drive-through window and taking cash from the register after threatening workers with a small tire iron, said.

The man pulled up to the drive-through at about 8:30 a.m. in a silver-blue Honda van that had been reported stolen, police said. 

Dorie Schwendeman, 41, was working at the window when the man, described to be in his late 20s or early 30s, jumped inside, said her husband, Paul Schwendeman. The Schwendemans own the coffee shop. 

The man used a bandana or T-shirt to cover his face, Paul Schwendeman said.

"It was right in the middle of our rush hour," he said. "As he was coming through the window, my wife hit him in the face with a coffee pot." 

When the man kept coming, Dorie Schwendeman hit him again, this time with a metal pitcher containing steamed milk, her husband said.

She and another employee at the shop ran outside, and the man grabbed cash from the register, he said.  

No employees, witnesses or bystanders were injured during the incident, police said.

Schwendeman, in an interview at 4 p.m. Wednesday, said he would not know how much cash was taken until the day's receipts were reviewed. 

The coffee shop remained open throughout the day. Dorie Schwendeman continued working Wednesday after the incident, which took about a minute's time, her husband said. 

The coffee shop opens at 5:30 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. during the week. It has been open for six years and was burglarized previously, a few months after opening, by someone who broke in when the shop was closed, Schwendeman said.

Only food items were taken then, he said. 

Police have identified a suspect and have impounded a van fitting the description of the stolen vehicle, said Ross Township spokesman Det. Brian Kohlhepp. 

Updated Thursday: Police arrested a suspect, John Hammel, 32, Wednesday evening in connection to the robbery of the coffee shop. Charges are pending. His residence was not released.

Stay tuned to Patch for further updates.