A husband and wife from Blue Ridge were arrested Monday after an attempted armed robbery at a convenience store in Ellijay.
According to a press release from the Ellijay Police Department, officers responded at about 6:30 p.m. to the robbery in progress at the Ideal Mart on Old Northcutt Road. Officers were able to arrest Shawn Sutton, 39, and Melody Sutton, 39, in connection with the alleged robbery.
Shawn reportedly entered the Ideal Mart portraying himself as a customer purchasing an energy drink. His wife, Melody, waited in a parked car outside the store.
After obtaining the energy drink, Shawn pulled a pair of women's panties from around his neck to cover his face. He went behind the counter and allegedly pointed a .45 cal. pistol at the head of the clerk and demanded all the money. One customer, who was legally carrying a concealed pistol, produced his firearm and intervened in the robbery. At the same time, a second customer in the store went to his vehicle to obtain his pistol and returned to help the first customer subdue Shawn.
Shawn attempted to leave the convenience store when a third customer, who was at the gas pumps and also armed, came inside to assist. The first customer told the other two not to shoot Shawn as he had been disarmed. Law enforcement then arrived at the scene.
One officer told Shawn to stop and get down as Shawn was still attempting to leave. The officer used a taser on Shawn after the man refused to obey the officer's commands. He was then taken into custody.
Other officers found Melody in the couple's car, parked at the side of the store. She was taken into custody without incident.
Shawn is charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The pair are being held in the Gilmer County Adult Detention Center without bond.
