Muncie Man Arrested in Alleged Taco Bell Attempted Robbery with Pruning Shears

Police arrested 33-year-old Ricky Allen Taylor after an alleged attempted armed robbery at the Taco Bell on S. Madison St. in Muncie. Fox59 lists formal charges against Taylor as Attempted Armed Robbery, a Level 3 Felony, and Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 Felony.

Court records and surveillance referenced in a truncated police summary say the suspect entered wearing a red mask and neon-orange hoodie and “brandished wh”, the account is incomplete in the available excerpt. Social posts have circulated a headline asserting that court documents claim the suspect used pruning shears, but that detail is not confirmed by the charging information supplied. Journalists and local officials handling the case have flagged the weapon identification as a key item to verify in police reports and court filings.

The public reporting also highlights a separate, unrelated attempted Taco Bell robbery at 2201 S. Madison St. in Muncie involving a different defendant. In that case, police arrested 26-year-old Devon Joseph Smalley after an early-morning drive-through incident in which the suspect “reportedly displayed a handgun when he pulled up to the drive-through window” about 12:45 a.m. A clerk described the encounter: “A clerk said after pulling the handgun, a bandit wearing a bright yellow or green mask and sunglasses demanded all of the money in her cash drawer.” Officers later located a loaded 9mm handgun on the vehicle’s front passenger seat and arrested Smalley during a traffic stop. Smalley was preliminarily charged with robbery, intimidation, possession of a narcotic drug, carrying a handgun without a license and driving while suspended, and was being held under a $35,000 bond.

For Taco Bell employees and managers, these incidents underline distinct vulnerabilities in both front-of-house and drive-through operations. Frontline workers can be exposed to sudden, high-stress confrontations where weapon type and distance matter for safety responses. Store-level policies such as cash-drop procedures, visible signage that limits available register cash, mandatory manager presence during late shifts, and employee training on de-escalation and alarm use are practical steps companies and franchisees can review. Support for staff after an incident, paid time off, access to counseling, and clear communication from district leadership, is also critical to maintain safety and morale.

Local authorities and court records remain the definitive sources for weapon identification, complete charges and timing in the Taylor case. As police release fuller reports and court dockets are updated, workers and managers should expect clearer information and consider a review of safety protocols to reduce the risk of future incidents.