Police: Ex-mayor Stanton robbed at hatchet-point

Former Phoenix mayor and congressional candidate Greg Stanton was robbed by a man wielding a weapon outside of a restaurant Saturday night, officials said.

Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Armando Carbajal said Stanton was approached by a man as he left Thai Rama restaurant near Camelback Road and 15th Avenue at about 8:40 p.m. Saturday.

Stanton told The Arizona Republic

Sunday that he was OK following the robbery.

He was eating alone at Thai Rama, which he described as one of his favorite restaurants, Saturday night.

The parking lot was full when he arrived, so he picked a spot on the street instead.

He was heading back to his car after dinner when he was approached by a man.

“I assumed he probably going through a difficult time — experiencing homelessness — and was going to ask for money,” Stanton said. “I will often provide them with resources.”

The man asked for money and Stanton replied he was happy to give him a few bucks to help out.

Then, the man moved toward Stanton aggressively. He asked the former mayor to move across the street to a darker area. Stanton then saw man was carrying a hatchet-like weapon.

Stanton told the man to just take the wallet before he moved around the attacker and ran back to the restaurant to call police. The man left.