Suspect Held for Holdup, Robbery Charges: Surprise Meeting With Chief Leads to Man’s Arrest
By Robin Fitzgerald, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Aug. 23–A suspect wanted for the armed robbery of a Biloxi convenience store and a hotel holdup in Gulfport was taken into custody after a surprise meeting with Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford.
Weatherford told the Sun Herald he was patrolling his city early Friday when he heard a report of an armed robbery at Fairfield Inn, 15121 Turkey Creek Road. Ten minutes later, Weatherford arrested James David Thomas and later learned Thomas was wanted on a similar charge in Biloxi.
“I get out there at odd hours to know what’s going on, to see what’s happening on the street,” Weatherford said.
Authorities identified Thomas, 41, as a resident of Sumner, Iowa.
Police said they believe Thomas held up the Circle K at 193 Rodenberg Ave. in Biloxi before the robbery of the hotel near U.S. 49.
Biloxi police issued a BOLO — an alert to “be on the lookout” — for the unidentified suspect in the Circle K robbery. Their BOLO advised area law enforcement agencies the suspect was last seen on foot near Southwind Apartments and to approach him with caution if they saw him. Investigator David Perry said Biloxi police identified Thomas through pictures recorded by store surveillance cameras before they learned he was in custody.
Weatherford said he spotted the suspect from the hotel heist in a vehicle at the FEMA trailer park on Rippy Road. Thomas didn’t have a weapon at the time of the Gulfport holdup, but implied he had a weapon by shoving one of his hands in a pocket, said Weatherford
“He admitted he committed a robbery,” said Weatherford, “and told me he did it because he has a drug-dependency problem.”
Justice Court Judge Dianne Ladner set bond on the Gulfport charge at $100,000. Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain set bond on the Biloxi charge at $250,000.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
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