Authorities suspend search for robbery suspect, manager injured

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 31, 2011

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office officials say deputies arrested one suspect in an armed robbery of Dollar General in Morris on Friday, but were forced to suspend the search for his accomplice later in the afternoon.

According to a report by Deputy Chief Jim Roberson, the store was robbed at about 10 a.m. by two black males. According to Morris police, witnesses say one of the suspects may have been armed with a handgun.

“The manager was in the process of opening the safe when one of the suspects began pushing her around the store. There was a scuffle, and they knocked her to the ground… and dragged her off to a side aisle,” said Morris police officer Mike Nazarchyk. The manager was sent to a local hospital, and was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder.

Nazarchyk said it appears the other suspect grabbed about $660 from the store’s safe.

Robertson said the pair drove away from the scene towards Warrior in a maroon Cadillac, which was later reported as stolen from Birmingham.

A short time later, a deputy spotted the vehicle in Mt. Olive and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the suspects drove away.

“There was a brief pursuit that ended with both the suspects exiting the car and attempting to flee on Mary Buckelew Parkway near Mt. Olive Road,” said Roberson. Gardendale police were also involved in the chase.

One of the suspects was captured, but the other escaped on foot into a wooded area near Mt. Olive Road and Mary Buckelew Parkway. The captured suspect was not identified as of press deadline on Friday.

A ground search was conducted by deputies, Gardendale police, Warrior police and Kimberly police, as well as sheriff’s office helicopters and K-9 units, but authorities suspended the search shortly before 2 p.m.