A brazen daylight robbery shook the streets of Washington D.C. when a lone gunman walked into the downtown Hot Shoppe on 14th Street NW and made off with $290 in cash. The thief, identified as Steve Dargo, a 35-year-old former private detective, pulled the stunt using a toy pistol as a prop.
According to eyewitnesses, Dargo walked into the restaurant between 6 and 7 pm, ordered a cup of coffee, and spent about 10 minutes sipping his drink before approaching the cashier, Mrs. Ins Adams. The suspect demanded the ‘big bills,’ which Mrs. Adams initially thought was a joke. However, Dargo was dead serious, pushing an envelope that allegedly contained the ransom note.
Police swiftly responded to the scene, with Detective Mark Oray and George R. Wilson quickly identifying Dargo as the culprit. The suspect was apprehended minutes after the heist, with the stolen cash still in his pocket.
Dargo was subsequently arraigned before United States Commissioner James F. Splalin, who set bond at $6000 and continued the case to August 12, 1958. As the city’s residents continue to reel from the shocking display of brazenness, the authorities remain tight-lipped about potential motives behind the daring robbery.
The Hot Shoppe, a popular eatery on 14th Street, has been a staple of the community for years, and the locals are still trying to make sense of the unprecedented incident. As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: Steve Dargo’s actions have left a lasting impact on the nation’s capital.
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Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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