Friday, Jul. 25, 2008

Two men arrested fleeing armed robbery

City police and Houston County sheriff's deputies arrested two Warner Robins men fleeing the scene of an armed robbery early Thursday morning, a detective said.

Toledo J. Bradford Jr., 29, and Lemar Keith Davey, 29, were charged with armed robbery and kidnapping in the 12:27 a.m. incident at Pat's Gifts and Games at 523 Carl Vinson Parkway, said Warner Robins police Sgt. Scott McSwain.

The men are accused of coming into the store, which features video gambling, brandishing some sort of cutting tool and demanding cash from the clerk, McSwain said.

The detective declined to disclose how much money was stolen or the type of "cutting tool" that was used.

The robbers ordered the clerk and three customers to the back of the store - the basis for the kidnapping charge, McSwain said. He declined to say whether the robbers tied up the clerk and customers.

A fourth customer, who was about to enter the store, saw what was happening and called 911, McSwain said.

The two robbers ran out the back of the store, where police officers and sheriff's deputies saw them fleeing and captured them after a short foot chase, the detective said.

No one was injured in the armed robbery, he said.

The store's video gambling machines are legal in Georgia as long as there are no cash payoffs and the winnings are redeemed for gifts or points toward gifts, McSwain said.

Gifts are available as winnings or they may be purchased, he said.

Police had no indication if the arrested men had been previous customers, McSwain said.

The business is in a commercial strip mall along Carl Vinson Parkway, he said.

Bradford and Davey were being held without bond Thursday at the Houston County jail, said sheriff's Maj. Charles Holt.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 923-3109, extension 243.