COLUMBUS – A man posing as a Columbus police officer held up a Merion Village bar Monday night, pistol-whipping the bartender before leaving with cash from the bar’s safe.
Police say the man entered Boscoe’s, 1224 S. High Street, at 9:07 p.m. and approached the bartender, introducing himself as a police detective and displaying a badge, Det. Brett Johnson of the Robbery Unit said.
POLICE IMPERSONATOR/ROBBER:
3/18/19@9:07pm, W/M entered Boscoes@1224 S. High St. (Merion Village) approached the bartender introducing himself as a police detective & displayed a badge. He robbed the bar & struck bartender w/gun. CPD:614-645-4665 or bjohnson@columbuspolice.org pic.twitter.com/5rPPTe44Tv— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) March 22, 2019
The man asked to speak with the bartender in the back room and after a brief conversation he produces a handgun and ordered the bartender to open the safe. Johnson says the bartender retrieved the money and the suspect struck the bartender in the back of the head with the gun, then walked out through the front door.
The suspect was described as a white man, between 45 and 55 years of age, 5’11”-6’0″ tall, weighing between 215 and 220 pounds.
He was wearing a dark jacket, gloves, light colored pants, glasses, with salt-and-pepper hair and facial hair and was carrying a manila folder, Johnson said.
Anyone with information as to the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Columbus Police Robbery Unit at 614-645-4665.