Former employee charged with armed robbery of Park Ridge Chipotle

PARK RIDGE (STMW) - A former employee has been charged with robbing a Chipotle restaurant in northwest suburban Park Ridge at gunpoint Monday morning, locking two employees in a cooler.

Juan Duran, 23, was charged with aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery with a firearm, according to Park Ridge police.

About 7:30 a.m., Duran—wearing a mask—entered the Chipotle in the 100 block of South Northwest Highway as employees were preparing for the day, according to police. He struck a male employee in the back of the head with a firearm, then ordered him to open the safe and told a female employee to empty it, police said.

Duran took $4,359.25 in cash from the safe, then forced both victims into the walk-in cooler at gunpoint, police said. He took their cellphones and locked them inside.

Duran was arrested at Sacramento and Touhy in Chicago about 1:30 p.m. Monday, police said. Deputy Chief Lou Jogmen said Duran was a former employee of the restaurant, but did not know when he left or his reason for leaving.

Duran, of the 6200 block of North Bell in Chicago, is scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday.