Police: Man denied glass of wine robs downtown Bend server, punches worker and runs, but is caught, arrested

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man who was denied a glass of wine from a closed downtown Bend restaurant Sunday night robbed the server of about $300, punched another employee and ran away, but was caught by police after a chase on foot, officers said.

Police responded around 9:40 p.m. to the area of Brooks Alley behind 5 Fusion & Sushi Bar after a caller reported someone had just been punched in the face, Bend PD Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

Officers learned the suspect, identified as Ryan Matthew Supica, 35, had requested a glass of wine from 5 Fusion, Miller said.

After a server told the man the restaurant was closed, he removed about $300 from the server’s apron, then punched another employee and ran south along NW Wall Street.

Witnesses called 911 and tried to run after the suspect, Miller said.

An officer spotted a man matching Supica’s description near Northwest Idaho Avenue and ordered him to stop, but the man ran, Miller said.

After a chase of about four minutes, officers took Supica into custody in the 500 block of NW Broadway Street.

Miller said officers found cash in Supica’s back pocket and returned $300 to the server.

Supica was arrested and taken first to St. Charles Bend, then to the Deschutes County Jail on charges of second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree robbery and an active warrant for a parole violation, Miller said.