Jerri Ann Howard
An hour after the armed robbery of a Mary Esther fast food business last night, an alert Okaloosa County Deputy spotted a woman walking on Beal Parkway whose clothing matched the robber’s description. The deputy detained the suspect, who then admitted to the crime. 26-year old Jerri Ann Howard of Fort Walton Beach is now charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and petty theft.
Employees at the Whataburger at 399 Mary Esther Cut-off say a woman walked in around 8 p.m. wearing a red shirt and black sweater, black pants, mirrored sunglasses, and with white tape around her face. However the employees say they recognized the woman, later identified as Howard, as a former employee at the business due to her voice and the distinct way she walked.
Witnesses say Howard walked to the counter, displayed a firearm, and pointed it at three staffers, demanding money. She left with a small amount of cash. Around 9 p.m. a deputy spotted Howard, whose clothing matched the robber’s description, at the intersection of Pelham Road and Beal Parkway and took her into custody. Howard says the weapon she used was a BB gun. It was located inside her home at 771Rockport Court along with part of the cash and the mirrored sunglasses. Howard told deputies she’d used approximately six dollars of the stolen cash to buy cigarettes.
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