GUNMAN CHARGED IN ATTEMPTED HOLDUP

A Memphis, Tenn., man was charged with attempted armed robbery this week after pointing a handgun at a fast food worker in a drive-through, the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office said.

Quentin Cook, 20, is charged with two felonies, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action, for attempting to rob Hardee's at 2115 William St. early Tuesday.

Police reported that about 2 a.m. a man pulled up the drive-through and asked an employee to give him all the money. When the employee said she didn't understand him, she said the robber pointed a handgun at her and repeated his demand. The employee then ducked below the counter, and the robber drove off, Lt. Carl Kinnison said.

A witness in the parking lot described the car to police.

Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Richard Pipkin spotted the car traveling north on Interstate 55 at 2:10 a.m. When the driver refused to obey the trooper's signals to pull over, a roll of plastic tubes used to puncture and safely deflate tires was placed across the road. The car rolled to a stop 10 miles after the tires were punctured.

Two boxes of ammunition were found during a search of the car, and a 9mm handgun matching the description of the gun used in the robbery was found just off of the roadway.

Cook's car been reported stolen during a carjacking a day before in Tennessee.

Cook was identified by the Hardee's employee through a photo lineup three hours after the attempted robbery. Al-though he gave a false name when arrested, a record of his fingerprints with the FBI for other armed robberies allowed police to determine his identity.

He is being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Cook is schedule to appear before a judge for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 8.