Sarasota authorities investigate another armed robbery

Sarasota County deputies are looking for a man suspected of robbing a Papa John’s Pizza at knifepoint after 6 p.m. Sunday.

A thin white male, who appeared to be at least 40 years old, brandished a blade and demanded cash from an employee at the store located near Tuttle Avenue near its intersection with Bee Ridge Road, according to a news release. The suspect, who was last seen wearing jeans, a plaid green shirt, sandals and a green hat, then fled on a bicycle.

A Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was unable to locate the man, but deputies found the bicycle from the incident. Anyone with information should contact The Criminal Investigation Section at 861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 366-TIPS (8477).

The latest incident comes less than a week after a man with a handgun robbed Great Clips Hair Salon on South Tamiami Trail, and three days after Sarasota County deputies investigated an attempted armed robbery at China 1 Restaurant.

On Friday, the Sarasota Police Department reported a similar incident at Mel’s Super Laundry and Cleaning at 3838 S. Osprey Ave.

A white male in a black ski mask used the back door to enter the store and demanded cash from an employee at gunpoint. Sarasota Police and the Sheriff’s Office were unable to locate the suspect, who escaped with an unknown amount of money.

Anyone with information about that incident or suspect should call the Sarasota Police Department at 954-7025.