Two stores robbed in 3 hours; 1 arrest
Published 7:14 pm Friday, July 9, 2010
One armed robbery suspect may have chosen the wrong day to hit adowntown convenience store.
Police Chief Pap Henderson said Anthony Williams, 23, addressunavailable, is in jail after the Friday 6 a.m. armed robbery ofFoster’s Chevron. Williams’ timing was definitely off if he waslooking to escape, since several agencies were already active onthe streets in force doing a drug round-up.
City police were busy Friday morning when around 3 a.m., therewas an earlier armed robbery at the Blue Sky Gas Mart on BrookwayBoulevard. Two black males walked in and demanded money, no one wasinjured with the assailants leaving on foot.
Foster Chevron owner Chester Foster said Williams allegedlywalked into his store at opening and demanded money.
“I was unlocking the doors, and the phone rang,” he said. “Iwent and answered the phone when this black male, all covered up,facemask and all, walked in flashing a gun, and told me to open theregister. When I did, he reached in and grabbed the money.”
As soon as the man left his store, Foster called 911. That was,in effect, calling in the cavalry.
“It was a minute or less, the police and the sheriff and theSWAT team, they were in town already and they had it covered,” hesaid. “They were on it quick. I’ve never seen anything likeit.”
Henderson said his officers were still working on the report atpress time, but that details would be available as theinvestigation continues. He praised his officers for theirapprehension of Williams in a parking lot around the corner.
“They were in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Foster said he considers himself blessed, not only that therobbery was without further incident, but that officials were ableto catch the alleged robber so quickly.
“You don’t know how many friends you’ve got until something likethis happens,” he said.
At the Blue Sky Gas Mart, an employee told officials that twoblack males walked in around 3 am, one medium build with a ski maskand carrying a gun, and one tall and slender with a gray hat.
The clerk said she was mopping when the two men entered thestore and demanded that she open the cash register. She said one ofthe men went behind the counter with her and took all the money outof the register. Then the assailants ran off on foot in thedirection of the back of First Bank, she said.
Henderson said there is a possibility the two robberies could beconnected.
“We’re working on it, but can’t tie them together just yet,” hesaid.