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Police seek suspect in armed robbery

By Blackwell Thomas, The Southern

Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:41 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - Police are seeking the public's help in catching a man who robbed Ron's One Stop at 600 E. Main St. on Thursday afternoon.

In a media release Lt. Keith Stiff reported that at about 2:10 p.m. the suspect entered the store wearing a blue hoodie, camel-colored pants, gloves and a mesh mask. The man reportedly held a silver handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect then fled the store on foot heading northwest from the building, Stiff reported.

In the release Stiff described the suspect as about 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds. The race of the suspect has not been confirmed.

Lt. Paul Echols said no one was hurt in the robbery and no shots were fired.

Police did not say how much money the suspect escaped with.

At about 3 p.m. Ron Kruep, who identified himself as the owner of One Stop's parent company Karco, said he had not heard anything about a robbery at one of the company's 17 stores.

"I'm unaware of any such incident," he said before adding that "it's been forever" since one of his stores was robbed. Employees of the store declined to discuss the robbery and referred questions to the owner.

Shortly after the robbery about seven police cruisers were on the scene and teams of officers were scattered in the surrounding neighborhood taking statements from residents.

Echols confirmed that witnesses saw the suspect fleeing the scene; he called on anyone who might have information to contact police.

Carbondale police can be reached at 457-3200. Crimestoppers can be reached at 549-COPS.

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com

351-5823