2 arrested in connection with Sonic heist

MALDEN, Mo. -- A Fisk, Missouri, man is among two being held in the Dunklin County Jail on charges stemming from a Saturday afternoon robbery at the Sonic Drive-In in Malden.

Jesse T. Sandage of Fisk and Davine S. Donnelly of Buffalo, Missouri, were charged Sunday with second-degree robbery and kidnapping by Dunklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jonce Chidister.

About 2:15 p.m., the Malden Police Department received a call from Sonic in reference to a carhop being robbed in the parking lot, according to officer Denise Summers' probable-cause affidavit.

Upon her arrival, Summers said, she contacted the victim, who reported she delivered a drink to a white female, driving a white Monte Carlo.

The woman, identified as Donnelly, gave the carhop a $5 bill, and when she "went to give [Donnelly] her change back someone came up from behind her," Summers said.

The subject, identified as Sandage, allegedly placed his hand over the carhop's mouth and "drug her behind the building," Summer said. "[She] stated [Sandage] told her he would hurt her if she did anything or screamed. [Sandage] then reached into [the carhop[']s] apron and grabbed her money out [approximately $120]."

Sandage then allegedly ran, getting into the passenger side of the Monte Carlo, while the carhop ran back inside Sonic to get her manager, Summers said.

Authorities began searching for the white Monte Carlo, which led to the arrests of Sandage and Donnelly.

Malden assistant police chief Jeff Mitchell said residents called in reports of seeing the vehicle, which was stopped in Stoddard County on County Road 722, east of Bernie, Missouri.

Sandage and Donnelly are being held in the Dunklin County Jail on $75,000 cash bonds.