By Floyd Ingram
Chickasaw Journal
HOUSTON – Authorities are looking for a man who walked into a Dollar General Store full of people Wednesday night, assaulted the cash register clerk and made off with a plastic sack full of cash.
The incident occurred at 8:29 p.m. Wednesday with at least five other customers in the store. The thief jumped the clerk from behind, got her in a headlock and cut her on the web of her hand as she attempted to protect herself.
“He forced her to the floor and grabbed a sack from the store and emptied the register and took off,” said Houston Police Chief Bill Voyles. “We have a video of the incident that shows him entering the store with a white medical mask on and socks over his hands. After the robbery he left on foot and ran through the woods behind the store.”
Voyles said police have recovered a dark hoodie, a mask and pants matching the description of the robber near the creek on Airport Road.
“We have taken those items to the Mississippi Crime Lab for analysis,” said Voyles. “We are surprised more people couldn’t or wouldn’t tell us what they saw.”
Voyles did say two store camera’s caught the robber walking into the store and the second one recorded the assault.
“He walked into the store with the mask on, socks on and knives in both hands,” said Voyles. “We do want to thank the customer who called 911 immediately after the robbery.”
Voyles said they are looking for a medium-build male, about 5-foot-9.
“This is the first armed robbery with a weapon where they hurt somebody that we have had in a long time,” said Voyles. “Physically the clerk is OK, but we were surprised with the way this turned violent, and it could have been worse. We need to get this guy off the street as soon as possible.”
Voyles said anyone with information about this crime is asked to call police at 456-2554.
Voyles said people can also anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-TIPS (8477), and if the information leads to an arrest and conviction, a cash reward will be paid.
floyd.ingram@journalinc.com
