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.