Robbery suspect arrested in county


Thursday, June 23, 2011
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Robbery suspect arrested in county

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photo by Barry Burleson

Kelly McMillen (left) and Kenny Dickerson are pictured with a handgun found near the scene of an arrest on Skating Rink Road.

An Oxford man was arrested Thursday on Skating Rink Road after he allegedly fled the scene of two armed robberies in Southaven and shot a gun near a Mexican restaurant in Byhalia.

The arrest was made by officers with the Byhalia Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department

Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said his department was called to the area near Victoria and Highway 178 East when Capt. James Wright spotted the subject’s vehicle on the east side of Skating Rink Road in the ditch.

Suspect Anthony Romone Johnson, 21, of 1506 B Chickasaw Road, Oxford, was in the vehicle and was arrested, Dickerson said. Officers saw money on the passenger side floorboard and on the driver’s side of the seat, he said.

Southaven police investigators arrived and transported the suspect to Southaven where he was charged with armed robbery of two convenience stores there, Dickerson said.

He said Johnson was also charged by Byhalia Police Department with reckless endangerment for allegedly firing two rounds toward the vicinity of the Mexican restaurant as he left the scene and traveled down 178 East.

Marshall County has charged Johnson with possession of controlled substances, according to the sheriff.

Dickerson said the vehicle Johnson was driving was towed to Davis Wrecker Service on Highway 178 near Red Banks because of rain. It was searched there and approximately $1,428 in cash, approximately $939 in checks, and an undetermined amount of marijuana and prescription pills were recovered from the vehicle driven by the suspect.

“We believe the money and checks were taken in Southaven from businesses as reported,” Dickerson said.

On Friday, June 17, Sheriff Dickerson and chief Gary Looney with the Byhalia Police Department and their investigators returned to the area of Skating Rink Road and Highway 178 to look for a gun. Southaven authorities said Johnson had given a statement indicating where he had thrown out the gun.

A ground search in the area yielded a black, 9 mm Hi-Point handgun, Dickerson said. The weapon was found after a witness said the suspect was seen the previous day walking up the road in the area.

The gun was turned over to the Southaven Police Department as evidence.

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