Patrick McMcElheney
They wore masks to conceal their faces, but Frankford’s Randy Sanchez and his alleged accomplices could not disguise their voices.
According to Bensalem Police, when Sanchez spoke during an Oct. 10 hold-up at Bar Louie, 600 Rockhill Drive, employees of the nightclub recognized his voice. Sanchez was one of their co-workers.
Now Sanchez, 27, of the 1300 block of Sanger St., and a homeless man named Patrick McElheney, 27, are facing criminal charges related to the armed robbery.
Sanchez couldn’t have worked at Bar Louie for very long. The business opened across the street from Neshaminy Mall in July. It is one of more than 70 locations in a national chain based in Addison, Texas.
On Oct. 10 at about 2:45 a.m., an employee was leaving the business after closing time and was confronted by three to five men in the parking lot, police said. The assailants wore ski masks and carried a variety of weapons, including a handgun, a butcher knife and a stun gun. They forced the worker inside the business, where the crooks herded other employees into a walk-in freezer. One of the robbers allegedly used the stun gun on one worker, who suffered a minor injury.
The robbers got into the company’s safe and stole an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. They also stole cash and personal property from individual employees. The crooks escaped in a yellow convertible Mustang owned by one of the employees. Police later found the car on the 3000 block of Derry Road in the Northeast.
During their initial investigation, police reported that one robber referred to another by the name “Taz” during the heist. It is unknown if Sanchez or McElheney is known by that name. Police say they continue to investigate the case to identify other suspects.
Sanchez and McElheney both remain in Bucks County Prison pending a preliminary hearing. Authorities have not posted their bail information or hearing date. Both men have extensive criminal histories, primarily in Philadelphia.
Sanchez’ adult record includes arrests for robbery, auto theft, theft, criminal trespassing, drug possession, illegal gun possession and fleeing police, dating back to the age of 18. McElheney was listed as a Northeast Philadelphia resident on court documents in 2010 and 2011. His adult record includes arrests for robbery, assault, illegal gun possession, burglary, theft, drug possession, making terroristic threats, harassment and shoplifting starting when he was 18. ••
Randy Sanchez
