By By ROBBIE BYRD
News Editor
An inmate who walked away from Atmore City Jail last month has finally been captured and charged in the burglary of the N. Main Street Shell station last last month.
Shato Byron Gray, 23, of Atmore was arrested Friday on charges of burglary, first degree, and escape.
Gray is charged with the robbery of the N. Main Shell station on Jan. 26. According to the Atmore Police Department, the robbery occurred at around 4 a.m. at knife point.
According to former police chief Danny McKinley in an interview following the robbery, the robber entered the store, walked around inside for a few moments and then went behind the counter and demanded money from the clerk.
The robber then forced the clerk into the bathroom and told her to lock herself there. The robber then fled on foot in an unknown direction.
McKinley said at the time of the robbery that the APD did not believe this robbery to be connected to others in Jan., including the robbery of Danny's Citgo and Snappy Car Wash.
Lt. Charles Elliard, investigator with the APD said that more charges are pending investigation but could not release the nature of the charges.
Gray walked away from the Atmore City Jail after completing his work detail on Jan. 7. He was serving time after being arrested to pay fines in connection with a harassment charge.
McKinley said at the time of Gray's escape that he was not a threat to the community.
"Basically he was a good guy that got into a little trouble," McKinley said. "We don't consider him a threat."
Gray is now facing felony charges of escape, as well as burglary charges.
McKinley said that Gray has served time before, but had no previous record of violent crimes.
Gray was a trustee at the jail.
"He was a trustee so he had a little freedom to work around the jail," McKinley said. "He's been here before. I guess he just decided he had been here long enough and excused himself."