NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 11, 2008
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT NABBED
An armed robber picked the wrong
date and time to attempt his third hold-up in the past two weeks. Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Travis Robinson was inside the Fast Payday
Loans at 700 North Eglin Parkway Thursday afternoon in an undercover capacity.
Around 2:45, a man walked in to the business and up to the counter,
pulled a knife on the clerk, and then demanded money.
Robinson ordered the man onto the floor but instead he ran from the building. He
was captured after a brief foot chase.
The
suspect is identified as 43-year old Robert Lee Smith Junior of 19 Southeast
Chestnut Avenue, #30 in Fort Walton Beach.
Smith has also
admitted to the armed robbery of the same business, Fast Payday Loans, back on
August 28th, as well as the Cash 4 Checks store at 446 Racetrack Road
on September 4th.
The money
from today’s attempted heist was recovered from Smith’s front pants pocket.