A woman and her son, armed with a curling iron, robbed a tax preparation business in central Toledo on Thursday.

Toledo police have issued an arrest warrant for Sonia Watson, 41, of 1617 Macomber St., charging her with one count of robbery. Her son, who police believe is in his 20s, is not being charged, said Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan.

Police say Watson and her son went into Liberty Tax Service, 3365 Monroe St., at about 6:55 p.m. Thursday with black cloths over their faces, according to a police incident report. Realizing there were two customers already in the store, the duo sat down in the lobby and pulled down the cloth, showing their faces.

After one customer left, the two again covered their faces and Ms. Watson reportedly pointed the curling iron, which was also covered with either a sock or a cloth, at Stephanie Knight, an employee, and demanded money.

The victim told police she at first thought the curling iron was a gun, so she pulled open a drawer to comply with the demand, but closed it and told the suspect she would get no money once the victim realized she was being threatened with a curling iron, the report states.

Watson then told her son to shoot, and when the son started to approach, a customer picked up a chair and hit him, the report states.

After Ms. Knight was hit on the wrist with the curling iron, she picked up a plastic soda bottle and threw it at the suspect, hitting her in the forehead, according to the report.

The suspect was able to get into the cash drawer and took about $280, according to a Toledo police report.

The woman and her son fled on foot from the business.

Ms. Knight was able to identify the suspect because Watson had recently been in the store to have her taxes done by Ms. Knight.

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