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Police Didn’t Grill Suspect

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A masked gunman who robbed a Sizzler steak house put himself in a hot spot because the manager recognized his voice as that of an employee of another eatery in the restaurant chain, police said Sunday.

Kenneth Villegas, 29, of Chula Vista was being held in County Jail after his arrest Sunday on suspicion of having robbed the Sizzler restaurant in the 5300 block of Jackson Drive in La Mesa of a large amount of money, La Mesa Police Sgt. Chuck Braddy said.

Villegas also was charged with “injuring a telephone line” by disabling the restaurant’s telephone, Braddy said.

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According to police, a masked and gloved bandit armed with a pistol robbed the La Mesa restaurant about 11:15 p.m. Saturday.

However, the disguise failed to prevent the manager from recognizing the voice of the bandit as that of Villegas, the assistant manager of the Sizzler restaurant in El Cajon, Braddy said.

Police armed with a search warrant searched Villegas’ home in the 700 block of Eastshore Terrace on Sunday morning and recovered what they believe is all of the cash obtained in the robbery, Braddy said.

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