AUTHOR: Jerry "Jet" Whittaker TITLE: Cashier hurt in another poker robbery DATE: 10:19 AM ----- BODY: A cashier was injured when two men staged an armed robbery at a poker arcade
in Koblerville early Monday morning. Department of Public Safety
spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said yesterday that Kamala Bade Mesik, 39, a
Nepalese cashier at DK Poker, suffered minor injuries to the throat, face,
and forearm. Ogumoro said the suspects managed to get an undetermined amount
of money. Both suspects were described as wearing dark-colored clothing. The
second suspect was described as wearing a dark-colored mask to cover his
face, according to Ogumoro. DPS received a call about the robbery at DK
Poker on Monday at 2:55am.
Ogumoro said that, based on the preliminary investigation report, a male
poker player had repeatedly complained to Mesik that one of the machines was
not functioning properly. When Mesik exited the cashier's booth to assist
him, the player suddenly came up behind her and held her at knifepoint. The
second suspect subsequently entered the establishment. The suspects forced
Mesik to open the door to the cashier's booth. The robbers then took money
from the cash box and cut the line of the surveillance camera. The suspects
then fled. "Anyone having information about this crime, please call the NMI
Crime Stoppers program at 234-7272. A reward of up to $1,000 is given for
any information leading to an arrest, Ogumoro said. On Thursday early
morning, a security guard and a male customer were injured when three masked
men robbed the Crown Poker Gameroom, which is located across the U.S. Post
Office in Chalan Kanoa. Ogumoro said yesterday that the security guard, MD
Nasrul Hasan Bhuiyan, 36, sustained laceration on the head and swelling on
the forearm. The customer, Wenjie Yu Chin, male, 53, sustained abrasions on
the right side of the neck. The suspects ran away with $1,058 in cash. The
three were described as wearing dark-colored clothing and masks to cover
their faces. Ogumoro said DPS received the report about the robbery on
Thursday at 4:36am. Citing preliminary investigation report, Ogumoro said
the three suspects entered Crown Poker Gameroom. Two suspects were armed
with black baseball bats, while the third was armed with a Taser and a
knife. A Taser (Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle) is a hand-held weapon that
delivers a jolt of electricity. Bhuiyan was struck with the baseball bat on
the forearm and the head. Chin, who was playing poker with one of the
machines, was assaulted with the Taser.

The cashier, Soawanee Nooserm Witer, 45, a Thailander, managed to safely
hide from the suspects in the bathroom and called 911.

The suspects fled on foot.

Police responded but failed to arrest the robbers. Medics transported
Bhuiyan to the Commonwealth Health Center.

On Feb. 5, a poker attendant was injured after three masked men staged an
armed robbery at 777 Treasure Island poker arcade in San Antonio.

The suspects-one armed with a handgun, the other carrying a machete and the
third unarmed-reportedly managed to run away almost $12,000 in cash from the
establishment. As of yesterday, police had yet to make an arrest. --------