Herald-News EditorLast night the Sunoco Food Mart on North Main Street was robbed at gun point. Owners SP and Nita Patel were alone at the store when a man dressed in a gray shirt, blue jeans and a ski mask covering his head and face burst through the door wielding a 22 caliber rifle. He shot up toward the ceiling and demanded money.
“I was so scared,” Nita said on Thursday morning, “I slapped some money down on the counter.” The robber grabbed the money and ran out the door. He was on foot.
911 Dispatch was contacted at 7:46 p.m., Edmonton Police Chief Michael Taylor said. Reviewing the store video didn’t help but family members came into the store and identified the robber as 19-year-old Austin Blackwelder of 800 North Main St. Before police could get to the residence he was already on the move driving a 1981 black and white Chevy pickup.
Officer David Robertson passed Blackwelder on Industrial Drive and quickly turned around to pursue. With Sheriff Rondal Shirley joining the chase Blackwelder pulled over, jumped out of his truck attempting to flee on foot. He didn’t get far and surrendered without incident and taken into custody. The only injury was to Chief Taylor’s cruiser. Blackwelder failed to put his truck into park and it started rolling toward Hwy. 68. Taylor blocked it with his vehicle sustaining some front end damage.
Neither the rifle nor the stolen money was in the truck, Chief Taylor said, and a search warrant was issued for the residence. Nothing turned up there either but during the interview with Blackwelder at the police station he disclosed where the rifle and cash were and both were recovered.
Blackwelder was charged with 1st degree robbery, 2 counts of 1st degree wanton endangerment, 1st degree fleeing/evading police, 1st degree criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence, no operator’s license, no registration plates and no insurance. He was transported to Barren County Correctional Center.
The EPD was assisted by the Metcalfe County Sheriff’s Department, the Kentucky State Police, special deputies and even Constable Dwight Smith.
Story courtesy of jobepublishing.com