Chinese restaurant employees flee gunman

China 1 Restaurant staff thwarted an attempted armed robbery when they ran out the back door of the South Tamiami Trail eatery after 10 p.m. Thursday.

A white male wearing pantyhose over his head had brandished a black handgun and demanded cash from the register of the Sarasota Pavilion eatery, according to a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office news release. The suspect, who stood roughly 6-foot-two-inches tall, chased staff members for a short time, then fled the area in a green sedan.

Anyone with information about the suspect or incident should contact the Criminal Investigation Section at 861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 366-TIPS (8477).