Tuesday night, law enforcement officials responded to an armed robbery that occurred at Mr. Pip’s convenience store, located at 875 Colquitt Hwy.

A store clerk told police that at around 10:30 p.m., a masked man carrying a small revolver-style handgun entered into the store screaming for her to open the cash register drawer, according to incident reports.

The clerk stated she opened the drawer and placed the money—between $150 and $200—onto the counter. The masked robber began placing the money into his pockets and ordered her to move back from the counter. She told police she was then able to push the store’s silent alarm button.

The man then ordered the two male customers, who were inside the store at the time of the robbery, to hand over their wallets. The robber then apparently got nervous and fled the store on foot without taking the customers’ wallets.

The robber was described as a black male approximately 6 foot tall weighing between 160 and 180 pounds with a medium build. He was wearing a black long sleeve shirt, gray sweat pants and a white and gray mask with eye holes cut into it.

Decatur County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies, Georgia State Patrol troopers and Bainbridge Public Safety officers responded to the scene.

A be-on-the-lookout call was sent out by E-911 for surrounding counties to look for any suspicious activity, said DCSO Major Wendell Cofer.

The Apalachee Correctional Institute tracking dogs out of Sneads, Fla., were requested to track the scent left by the robber. The dogs picked up a scent and followed it for approximately 300 feet where it is believed the robber got into a vehicle, said Cofer.

A short time later, a Miller County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle that appeared to be attempting to elude the officer by turning into a driveway, said Coffer.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested for habitual violator charges. The passenger of the vehicle was found to have a sum of money on his person and was detained for questioning by Sheriff’s Investigator Victor Strickland—who is in charge of the case.

Crime Scene Investigator Capt. Gale Bowyer processed the crime scene at Mr. Pips and the scene of the traffic stop in Miller County, according to Cofer.

On Wednesday, investigators assisted by the Florida State Hospital tracking dogs searched an area near the traffic stop for possible evidence related to the robbery.

Cofer said they will again conduct a search in the area today.

Robbery occurs on city street

On June 6, a man reported being robbed at gunpoint while walking on North Sims Street in Bainbridge.

The 47-year-old man told police he was walking in front of the Sims Street Apartments at approximately 1:30 p.m. when a black male came across the street and ran up behind him.

The victim said the robber stuck a small silver gun into his back saying, “Give me what you got or I am going to kill you,” according to incident reports.

The robber took the victim’s wallet, containing $24, and walked away toward Troup Street.

Bainbridge Public Safety officers searched the area, but were unable to locate a suspect.

Juvenile receives drug charge

Decatur County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a juvenile for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute following a traffic stop early Sunday morning.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., Sheriff’s Deputy Vincent Edmonds stopped a car on Zorn Road that had an expired tag.

Deputy Edmonds noted in the incident report that the driver of the car, 17-year-old Marquevius Jocques Osborne of 1520 E. Water St. in Bainbridge, appeared to be nervous. Osborne’s driver’s license information was found to be a Class CP license (instructional permit).

Edmonds received consent from Osborne to search the vehicle. During the search the juvenile passenger in the vehicle admitted to owning a bag, located inside the vehicle, which had six plastic bags of marijuana inside, according to the report.

Osborne was arrested and charged with driving in violation of a limited permit and expired vehicle tag.

The juvenile was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.