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Frederick police have arrested and charged two employees of The Greene Turtle Restaurant in downtown Frederick for staging an armed robbery at the restaurant earlier this month.
An investigation into the Nov. 9 robbery led to the arrest of Zachary B. Saltzman, 21, of Frederick and Christina N. Sprunger, 19, of Brunswick, both employees of the restaurant located at 50 Citizens Way, between Market and Court streets, police said.
The Frederick Police Department gave the following account of the robbery:
As the Greene Turtle was closing that night, Saltzman — unrecognizable in a hooded sweatshirt tied tightly around his face — "confronted" Sprunger outside as she was taking out the trash, brandished a knife and forced her back inside where he also confronted another employee and the restaurant's manager.
Saltzman then made away with cash. Police would not disclose how much was stolen.
Interviews led to the arrest of both employees, who both confessed to the crime, said Lt. Shawn Martyak, head of the Frederick Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. He said the suspects' motive was money.
"Our detective did an outstanding job with interviews that led us to believe it was an inside job instead of a random or stranger act," Martyak said. "So, he pursued that avenue and was able to uncover a couple of clues that led to the two suspects."
Saltzman was arrested on Monday and charged with armed robbery, two counts of attempted assault in the first degree, conspiracy to commit an armed robbery and theft of less than $100,000. Police said a portion of the money and other evidence were recovered from Saltzman's residence.
Sprunger was arrested on Wednesday and charged with armed robbery, two counts of assault, two counts of conspired assault, conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, and theft of less than $100,000.
Both are being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.
No attorneys were listed in online court documents to represent Saltzman or Sprunger.
A call placed to Leigh Sauter, director of marketing for The Illiano Group, which owns the Greene Turtle, was not immediately returned Thursday.
E-mail Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net.