A 19-year-old man is behind bars after Prince William County police say he pulled out a water gun and demanded cash from an armored car guard outside a Salvation Army store in Manassas. Eladio Tomas Puente Mason was tracked down and arrested six days after the attempted holdup, and he now faces a felony charge while he awaits his next court date.
What Happened Outside the Salvation Army
According to WJLA, the victim was a Brink's security employee who was retrieving money from the business when Puente Mason allegedly approached and demanded cash. The guard refused to hand over the money, and the suspect displayed a water gun before leaving the area, the station reports. The Prince William County Police Department was dispatched to investigate the attempted robbery report, and officers later found and arrested Puente Mason.
Police blotter records reviewed by Potomac Local News pin the incident to September 1 at the Salvation Army store at 11201 Balls Ford Road in Manassas, clarifying earlier reporting that had referenced a Woodbridge location. Puente Mason was arrested on September 7, six days after the confrontation. The Salvation Army facility he's accused of targeting operates as a regional Family Store and Donation Center, with retail revenues supporting adult rehabilitation programs across Northern Virginia, according to background from the Salvation Army.
A Toy Gun, A Felony Charge
Puente Mason was charged with attempted robbery, not armed robbery.
The report does not mention a brandishing charge, and the exact type of toy or water gun displayed during the incident has not been specified.
Suspect Held Without Bond
Puente Mason is being held without bond as he awaits a court date. The reports do not identify the detention facility where he is being held or the location of his court proceedings.
The reports do not detail the prosecution's burden of proof or the elements of attempted robbery. The guard refused to comply, and no cash changed hands. The incident involved a Brink's security employee, but the reports do not provide details about the company's operations or employee training.
The incident involved a water gun, but the available reports do not discuss broader public-safety concerns, police or security training, or warnings from other jurisdictions.
