By By Connie Nowlin Managing editor
Atmore police have arrested a suspect in the midday robbery of M &Wez's store at 530 N. Main St.
According to Police Chief Jason Dean, Escambia County Middle School was locked down and tracking dogs from the Department of Corrections brought in after a slender black male, about 5'3", entered M&Wez's store at 530 N. Main at 11:28 a.m. Friday and made a small purchase.
He then displayed a handgun, Dean said, demanded money from the store owner and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. He ran behind the store and Atmore police called in the tracking dogs.
The dogs followed the trail for about two hours, Dean said, but lost the track.
Courtney Daniel Austin, 21, was arrested Sunday on misdemeanor warrants on charges of receiving stolen property. Dean said Austin was questioned in connection with the Friday incident and was charged with armed robbery. The investigation continues and Dean said other charges may be filed.
In other police actions, the driver of a 1998 Dodge Intrepid that wrecked and did extensive damange on Main Street on Sept. 29. has been identified as Krezmenski Finklea..
The vehicle was northbound on Main Street about midnight when it lost control near the intersection of Owens and Main streets, and traveled to the intersection of Church and Main streets before striking several planters, a tree, uprights that supported an awning on Curiositiques antique store and breaking several windows at that business and at Gerlach's Grill.
According to Dean, alcohol may have been a factor in the accident. The incident is still under investigation and charges had not been filed as of press time Tuesday evening.