NEWS RELEASE                                             

For Immediate Release
January 28, 2009
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
  (850) 651-7420

OCSO ARRESTS ROBBER


Andrew Alexander

     One of three individuals believed responsible for the robbery of the Country Corner Convenience Store on January 13th is in custody.

      30-year old Andrew Alexander is charged with robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft of a firearm.  Two others are still at large.

      The Sheriff's Office developed several suspects through an investigation into numerous armed robberies and a home invasion which took place over a weeklong period. One of the suspects was initially identified only as "Drew". He was later contacted at 141 Scottwood Drive in Fort Walton Beach and gave law enforcement officers a false name. Investigators identified him as Andrew Alexander and he was arrested for failure to register as a convicted felon in Florida and providing a false identity in a criminal investigation. A stolen firearm was found in one of his bags.

     A worker at the Country Corner Convenience store was able to identify Alexander as one of the January 13th robbers.

      During that hold-up, three people entered the business at 1312 Lewis Turner Boulevard. One jumped over the counter and grabbed the clerk by the neck.  However, the thieves were unable to get into any of the registers and fled the store when the clerk hit the alarm button.

      Anyone with information is asked to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office at 850-651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS.

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