ROYSTON - A man who allegedly committed an armed robbery at a Royston drug store and then stole a pickup truck is in custody, thanks to a trooper from Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell.
Trooper 1st Class Oneal Saddler, who made the arrest shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, provided details.
"Basically they gave out an armed robbery BOLO [be on the lookout] out of Franklin County," Saddler said. "They gave a description of a white Ford F-150 with a chrome toolbox."
The vehicle, owned by Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman, was taken during the armed robbery at Rite-Aid, where his wife was working at the time..
At 9:01 p.m., Saddler met the vehicle on Georgia 51.
"Within a mile I attempted to make a traffic stop," Saddler said. "He jumped out and attempted to bush bond, and I apprehended him before he could get going good. I placed him under arrest. He had all the money and everything in his pocket from the armed robbery."
The method of the armed robbery gave reason for concern.
"He placed a bomb - or a potential bomb - he placed a box and said it was a bomb on the countertop," Saddler said. "So we knew we were looking for an armed suspect - possibly armed with a bomb and possibly some firearms as well."
Because of those factors, Saddler conducted a felony traffic stop on the suspect.
"It was a pretty hairy moment," Saddler said.
Saddler was able to take the man into custody, and process him for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to interview.
That arrest took place while Royston and Franklin County emergency personnel were evacuating the area around Rite-Aid due to the possible explosive device.
After the arrest, Saddler recovered the stolen vehicle undamaged.
Boleman said he has asked the GBI to handle the investigation, noting that agency will be taking charges on the suspect, identified as Michael James Starnes.
The robbery was reported just before 8:45 p.m.
