JPD searching for robbery suspect | Crime

Jonesboro police say they will “use every means necessary to arrest” those involved in a string of armed store robberies.

The latest hold-up occurred Saturday night at the Dollar General Store located at 1616 North Church Street.

Like previous robberies, the suspect brandished a handgun.  But, this time he fired it.

According to police, an African-American man wearing jeans and red and black jacket came into the store just after 7:30.  The man had a yellow bandana covering his face and was holding a semi-automatic handgun.

A store employee told investigators the man “pulled the slide back on the gun to cock it, pointed it at her and demanded money.”  Once she gave him the cash, the suspect then told her he wanted the money in the safe.  After she told him there was no safe, the man then ran from the store.

Patrick Savage told police he was sitting in his pickup truck in the parking lot when he saw the suspect come out of the store.  Thinking the man was about to harm a woman and her child, Savage said he backed his truck toward the suspect “in an attempt to draw his attention away” from the woman and child.

Police say the suspect then turned and fired his gun three times at Savage.  One .40 caliber round struck the store’s front wall, near the doors.  Another round struck Savage’s tailgate, going through both sides and into the truck bed.  The third round was not located.

This was the latest in a rash of robberies and the second time in a month this store has been hit.  Jonesboro police and CrimeStoppers are offering a $2,500 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.  If you have any information that can help police find this suspect, call CrimeStoppers at 935-STOP.