TRAVELERS REST, SC (WYFF)- Police investigators say a restaurant manager staged an armed robbery in front of his wife to get money to bail his girlfriend out of jail.
On June 28, Paul Runion told Travelers Rest police that he was leaving Burger King on State Park Road with the night deposit when he was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot by two people.
Runion told investigators that the night deposit of $1,465 was taken. He told police there were three witnesses in the parking lot, including two employees and his wife.
Police said Runion's wife was very upset by the robbery, and was crying. They said Runion expressed anger about the two men "sticking a gun in his wife's face."
Police said their investigation later revealed the Runion had staged the robbery with two of his friends, Zach Ivey and John Watt.
Police said Runion had a girlfriend in jail at the time and did not have the money to bond her out.
According to police, Runion and his two friends planned to divide the night deposit equally.
Runion's wife and the two witnesses in the parking lot of Burger King believed that it was a real armed robbery and that their lives were in danger, police said.
Runion, Ivey and Watt were arrested on armed robbery charges.
Copyright 2012 WYFF. All rights reserved.
Paul Runion (Source: WYFF)
Zach Ivey and John Watt (Source: WYFF)
