By By Janet Little Cooper
An Atmore man has been arrested and charged with two counts of third degree strong arm robbery of two elderly residents.
Wayne O'Neil Howard, 41 of Atmore, is in custody at the Escambia County Jail in Brewton after confessing to Atmore investigators that he was the perpetrator in the two separate attacks.
The first robbery occurred Dec. 12 at the home of an elderly couple on Fourth Avenue. According to Atmore Police Department Investigator Robby Williams, an 82-year-old man was robbed by Howard whom he had hired to do some yard work for him.
"The elderly man had paid the worker the agreed amount, but the worker returned later and demanded more money," Williams said in a published report. "When the elderly man refused to pay, the worker physically assaulted him, forcibly took his wallet , and stole $120 from it."
A similar type robbery occurred this week on Tuesday, Jan. 2 when $200 was forcibly taken from an 85-year-old Atmore man.
"A male came to his residence and demanded money, the elderly man refused to give it to him," Williams said. "The man assaulted him, causing minor injuries and took his wallet."