for immediate release
June 29, 2004
N E W S R E L E A S E
The third time proved to be the charm for Okaloosa Deputies on the trail of a
convenience store robber overnight.
Steven Dewayne Watts, age 36 (12-17-1967), of 1319 Greendale Road, Apartment E, Fort Walton Beach, was apprehended outside the Shell Food Mart #314, on Beal Parkway near Racetrack Road, a few minutes after 6:00 o'clock Tuesday morning.
In addition to Attempted Robbery at that store, Watts is accused of robbing Tom Thumb #63, 100 W. Miracle Strip Parkway, Mary Esther, a few minutes after 11:00 o'clock Monday night; and Exprezit Convenience Store #704, 1323 Lewis Turner Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach a few minutes before 6:00 Tuesday morning.
At the Tom Thumb, a robber wearing socks on his hands and a hood over his head demanded cash and a carton of Marlboro Lights cigarettes. He fled with the carton of cigarettes and less than $50 cash.
At the Exprezit Store, a would-be robber of similar description left empty-handed after the clerk refused to hand over cash, saying she had activated an alarm.
Approximately ten minutes later, a citizen alerted the clerk at the third store of a suspicious person who had just arrived in a car with duct tape over the license tag. While the clerk was on the telephone with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, the suspicious man entered... then left the store, as Deputies arrived on scene. Watts was taken into custody without incident.
No weapon was displayed at any of the robberies or attempted robberies.
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for more information contact Sgt. Rick Hord, Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420