Restaurant employees stop thief

HUNTINGTON -- A visiting attorney from Washington, D.C., and several employees at Jim's Steak and Spaghetti House at 920 5th Ave., held a man face down on the ground outside the restaurant until police came after he attempted to take the restaurant's earnings at about 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Jackie L. Rakes, 32, of Nitro, was arrested and charged with grand larceny.

Huntington Police Lt. B.J. Wamsley said Rakes alllegedly entered the restaurant and asked for spaghetti sauce to go. As soon as the cashier turned around, Wamsley said, the man reached over the counter, snatched the money and ran.

"When we got there, waitresses, cooks and managers were piled on top of him near the front sidewalk," Wamsley said. "It was amazing because the man is 6-foot-2-inches and about 200 pounds -- that's pretty big for those small waitresses."

Even though the restaurant's employees did a good job, Wamsley said instead of counting their money in the front of the restaurant, maybe this incident will make them count the money in the back.

of the restaurant.