Drive-thru assault, robbery appears to be set-up

HICKORY, N.C. — What started as a trip for dinner with a woman she thought was her friend turned into more than she bargained for when she was assaulted and robbed.

A 23-year-old woman was working at a bar on Springs Road late Thursday night when she got a call from a friend she’d known for three weeks, asking her if she wanted to get a bite to eat. The friend, Ashley Lail, picked the woman up from work and they went to the drive-thru at Burger King, according to the police report.

While in the drive-thru, a woman in a brown and gold ski mask came out of the woods, reached into the passenger window and beat the victim with her hands, grabbing her by the ponytail. The victim kicked the robber in the throat and was able to pull away, leaning toward the inside of the car, the police report states. The robber opened the car door, unbuckled her seatbelt, grabbed her and pulled her out of the car.

The robber stole the woman’s cell phone, purse and wallet.

While the altercation was occurring, Lail was on the phone and didn’t seem very concerned about what was going on. She then left the drive-thru line and drove off, according to the report. The suspect also got away.

Because Lail drove off and her cell phone was stolen, the victim went inside and called police and her mother about the robbery.

Police talked to Lail, who said after the suspect came out of the woods, they showed a knife and told her to drive. Lail refused and fled.

After looking at surveillance footage from the restaurant, officers decided to arrest Lail, charging her with felony conspiracy to commit common law robbery, assault and battery and false report to a police station. Lail, 24, ofHickory, was given a $15,000 bond. Through the course of the interview they also charged her on an unrelated count of procuring prostitution, and gave her a $2,000 bond on that charge.

Police are still looking for the attacker, who the victim recognized as someone who was in the restaurant earlier in the day. She is described as a chubby, fair-skinned white female, with brown hair that she wore in a ponytail. She wore shorts and a tank top and is between 5 feet 4 inches tall and 5 feet 6 inches tall. Anyone with information is asked to callHickorypolice at 328-5551.

WSOC