Fireworks store employee charged with lying about armed robbery

A Macon fireworks store employee was charged Saturday with theft and falsely reporting an armed robbery.

About 10:30 a.m. Bibb County deputies answered a call that an armed robbery had occurred at Jake’s Fireworks at 3377 Mercer University Drive. Store employee Joshua Collins, 24, reported that an armed black male entered the store, pointed a gun at him and demanded money, according to a Bibb County Sheriff’s Office release.

Collins also told deputies that the robber stated he was going to rob the Jake’s Fireworks at 1406 Gray Highway. Deputies went to that location and were told by employees there that money was missing and that the back door was open upon their arrival.

Collins was taken to the sheriff’s office for further questioning, and he admitted to taking money from both locations, the release stated. He was arrested on a charge of false report of a crime and two charges of theft.

This story was originally published July 31, 2016 at 7:36 AM with the headline "Fireworks store employee charged with lying about armed robbery."