By By Adam Prestridge
One criminal is behind bars and another is still on the run following two robberies that occurred in Atmore during the last five days.
Damian Lamont Mackey of 154 Woods Road in Atmore was arrested and charged with robbery and sodomy on June 30 after being captured following a robbery that occurred at the B.P. Station located on Alabama Hwy. 21 and Interstate 65 at approximately 10:21 p.m.
According to a release issued by the Atmore Police Department (APD), a call was received a call from an Alabama State Trooper at the gas station reporting a robbery in progress. The trooper reported that he had been stopped by an unknown black male stating that someone was robbing the store. When the trooper arrived on the scene, he noticed that the store's front door was locked and saw a black male walking around the store. The suspect came to the door then fled on foot.
The trooper gave chase across the parking lot and attempted to restrain the suspect, the report said. The suspect then broke away from the trooper and fled across Hwy. 21 into a wooded area. Officers from the APD arrived on the scene and set up a perimeter of the area and later called the Alabama Department of Corrections' K-9 Unit in to assist.
The K-9 unit picked up the suspect's scent along the side of Interstate 65 and he was eventually captured. He was later positively identified by witnesses as the robber.
According to APD investigations, it was determined that the suspect entered the store during business hours and at closing time two employees cleared the store and secured the door. The suspect then came out of hiding and took an undisclosed amount of money and later sexually assaulted both employees.
On Friday, July 1, a day following the incident, Mackey confessed to the robbery and sodomy. He also confessed to the robbery of a business back on April 5.
Another robbery occurred on July 4 at the Exxon Service Station on South Main Street, but this armed robber managed to get away.
According to a release from the APD, the department received a call at approximately 4:44 a.m. reporting the armed robbery. Upon arrival officers were informed that a black male armed with a hammer, wearing dark colored clothing and some type of cloth covering his face, entered the store demanding money. After taking an undisclosed amount of money, the subject fled south on foot.
The Alabama Department of Corrections' K-9 unit was called in once again. The unit picked up the suspect's scent, but lost it after a short distance.
The clerk of the store was not harmed during the robbery.
If anyone has information regarding the robbery, you are asked to contact the Atmore Police Department at 368-9141.