LMPD search for food truck robbery suspect
By Katie Bauer
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – Louisville Metro Police need help finding a man accused of robbing a food truck, holding a gun to a teenager's head and demanding money.
Police say the suspect's name is Bobby Aldridge. The victims at Las Gorditas say Aldridge didn't just rob them once, he robbed them twice.
Las Gorditas is a small restaurant on wheels that's been a hidden treasure for the last eight years at the corner of Bardstown Road and Watterson Trail in Buechel. It prides itself on serving fresh, authentic Mexican food.
But instead of worrying about typical business operations, owner Esperanza Costas now has constant fears because of the robberies which happened fewer than two weeks apart. "I want to move, but all my business is here," she said.
The first time, Costas said, the life of her 17-year-old niece was threatened.
"I was just thinking about my family really, like not being able to see them anymore," said victim Marisol Torres. "When I put my head down to write their order, as soon as I put my head down, he grabbed me by my hoodie and put the gun to my head."
Police said the man holding the gun was 30-year-old Bobby Aldridge. Investigators are actively looking for him.
Costas said the gunman got away with money. Days later he returned.
"The first thing they do is say, ‘We want the money, we want the money,' and I tell them, ‘the money is not here. it is in the truck,' so they take me outside with a gun in my back and walk me all the way to the truck," said Costas.
Police said they already arrested the two people the gunman was with, Kyle Paisley and Katherine Saling, but Aldridge remains at large.
After adjusting their hours and adding a security camera, the employees simply say, forget the money, it's the feeling of safety they really hope to get back.
"We don't feel safe here anymore, and it's just scary," said Torres. "I can't go out places anymore without being scared."
Bobby Aldridge is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call police as soon as possible at 502--574-LMPD.
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