Video: Subway employees fight back against armed robber

WHITEHALL, Ohio — A Whitehall store owner fought back and helped nab a suspected thief who robbed his sub shop at gunpoint.

Timothy Rogan is now behind bars and accused of holding up a Subway Restaurant on East Main Street back in November.

"He's got his finger on the trigger, he's ready to use the gun if he has to," said Whitehall Police SGT. John Grebb.

Store security cameras caught the suspected thief pointing a rifle at store owner Jim Woodward. Instead of handing over the cash, Woodward wrestled the weapon away from the thief, as one of his employees banged a baking tray over the crook's head.

Woodward was unable to talk with ABC 6/FOX 28 News because of Subway corporate policy, but plenty of his customers were willing to weigh in on what happened.

"The guy could've shot him," said customer Scott Bromberg. "I think he made the right decision, I am in retail and they will shoot you for a nickel."

Police say Rogan fled the store empty handed, but left important evidence behind at the scene. DNA pulled from the suspect's hands and left on the rifle was sent to Ohio's BCI crime lab, where investigators made a discovery that led police to Rogan.

The father of three is now charged with the robbery. Grebb says he was arrested Tuesday afternoon at his home and confessed to the crime saying he was jobless and looking for a way to provide for his family.

Rogan is locked up in the Franklin County Jail on $250,000 cash bond.