SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Two Pace Convenience Stores Robbed At Gun Point Within Hours

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Investigators are currently investigating two armed robberies that occurred during the early morning hours of Jun 26 th , 2008. The first robbery occurred shortly after midnight at the Tom Thumb located at the intersection of Highway 90 and East Spencerfield Road in Pace. A white female (described below) entered the store and approached the clerk at the cash register. The female suspect then brandished a semi-automatic handgun and demanded that the clerk hand over all of the money from the register. The clerk complied, and the suspect left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash, a carton of Newport Cigarettes, and a pack of gum. A search of the area by responding deputies and K-9 was conducted with negative results.

Shortly after 0300 hours, another hold up alarm was received from the Tom Thumb located at the intersection of Woodbine road and Chumuckla Highway in Pace. Arriving deputies talked to the clerk, who stated that a male suspect (described below) came inside the store and approached him with a semi-automatic handgun. The suspect then grabbed the clerk and forced him into a walk-in cooler, locking him inside. The suspect then removed the money from the register and fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. After the suspect left the store, the clerk was able to kick the cooler door open and activate the hold-up alarm. A search of the area by responding deputies and K-9 was conducted with negative results.

It is not known if the two robberies are related. The suspect's identities are not known at this time. Investigators are still processing surveillance video, and none is available at this time. Anyone able to provide information concerning either of the robberies is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office at 983-1190, or Crime Stoppers at 437-STOP. Anyone providing information to Crime Stoppers that results in an arrest is eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.00.

East Spencerfield Tom Thumb Suspect Description:

White Female, approx. 30 years old, 5'00" tall, heavy set, brown eyes, poor complexion, baseball cap.

Woodbine and Chumuckla Tom Thumb Suspect Description:

White Male, later teens to early twenties, blue and red hooded sweatshirt, black pants, sunglasses, gloves.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net