TAMPA, Fla. — Authorities in Florida are searching for a man accused of burglarizing a Wendy’s in Tampa by forcing himself through the fast-food restaurant’s drive-thru window.
The incident occurred Sunday, Aug. 2 and was captured on surveillance video, WFLA reported.
According to deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Kelvin Barnes, 26, pulled up to the window around 11 p.m. with unknown passengers in a gray 2020 Nissan Maxima.
Employees told deputies that at some point during the order process Barnes and his passengers became belligerent, and Barnes later exited the vehicle, approached the front of the restaurant and threatened to start a physical altercation with an employee, Fox News reported.
According to the sheriff’s office, Barnes then returned to the drive-thru window and forced his upper body through the opening before grabbing cups and straws off the counter and scattering them on the floor.
Deputies told WFLA that Barnes then grabbed the cash drawer but dropped it when employees approached him. He fled in the Maxima with the Tennessee license plate reading 2V72W7.
“We have clear surveillance video of this suspect and are asking everyone to take a good look and call us if they know where Kelvin Barnes is hiding,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “He didn’t get away with any money, but the damage and hostility this restaurant and its employees faced is unacceptable, and we will make sure Barnes learns his lesson.”
Barnes’ driver’s license was issued in Georgia, and he does not have a Florida address on record, Fox News reported.
Meanwhile, the company that rented Barnes the Maxima is in the process of filing a failure-to-return report with the Tampa International Airport Police Department, WFLA reported.
According to Fox News, Barnes is facing burglary, criminal mischief and petit theft charges once captured.
Watch the incident below:
SearchForWendysBurglar🚨CAUGHT ON CAMERA 🚨— MAN DAMAGES WENDY'S DRIVE-THRU! #teamHCSO is searching for Kelvin Barnes (26) after he forced his way through a Wendy’s drive-thru window in Tampa on Sunday. A Wendy’s employee told deputies Barnes and his unidentified passengers became belligerent while placing their order and got out of their car. This surveillance video shows Barnes reaching in the Wendy's window to throw things and grab the cash drawer. Barnes ended up dropping the cash drawer and leaving in a gray 2020 Nissan Maxima with a Tennessee plate. Deputies discovered the Maxima is a rental car. The rental company is filing a failure-to-return report with the TIA Police Department. Barnes has a Georgia driver’s license and no known local address. 📍 DO YOU KNOW WHERE BARNES IS? Barnes is facing burglary, criminal mischief, and petit theft charges! Call HCSO if you have any information on his whereabouts 813-247-8200. #SheriffChadChronister #teamHCSO #HillsboroughCounty #Florida
Posted by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, August 11, 2020
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