Hunger led to Dollar General robbery, man claims

So, according to the preliminary investigation, Manning walked into the store at 2821 Linden Ave. armed with a 9mm training pistol that wasn’t loaded, pointed it at a clerk, stole $388 and walked out, Sheldon said. Manning was captured minutes later on South Smithville Road, on the bridge that spans U.S. 35.

Police recovered the cash, the sergeant said, and Manning was being booked into the Montgomery County Jail later tonight on charges of aggravated robbery and possession of criminal tools.

He had come into the store sometime around 7:30 p.m. dressed in all black and let patrons cut in front of him in line so he could get as many of them as he could out of the store. Sheldon said one of the patrons told police he thought it was strange that there was a man in the store with a turtleneck pulled up over much of his face.

There were a handful of customers in the store at the time, Sheldon said.

Sheldon said that according to the investigation, Manning began disrobing once he left the store in an attempt to change his appearance. One of the patrons followed him on foot, from a safe distance, while the second followed in a vehicle. One of the two patrons called police dispatch to report where officers could find their suspect.

FIRST REPORT

The suspect in the armed robbery of a Dollar General store on Linden Avenue has been caught, apparently with the help of a store employee, Dayton police said.

The suspect was apprehended minutes after the robbery at the store, 2821 Linden Ave. He is being questioned at a district headquarters and will be taken to the Montgomery County Jail.

The robbery was reported just after 7:33 p.m. There were no reported injuries.

We’re told the suspect came into the store wearing all-black clothing, pointed a black handgun at a clerk, then began disrobing once he left the store.

According to police, one of the store employees followed the robber at a safe distance and reported the invader’s location to a police dispatcher. Police said they took the robber into custody just before 8 p.m. He was captured on South Smithville Road on the bridge that spans U.S. 35.

We will update this story as we get details.