APD arrests purse thief

Published 5:55 am Friday, June 5, 2009

By By Adam Prestridge
Officers with the Atmore Police Department arrested an Atmore man Thursday afternoon for the robbery of two women Monday afternoon.
Jeffrey Daniel Gentry, 29, of Atmore was arrested Thursday following a search warrant of his home and later during questioning admitted to both crimes.
According to APD Investigator Robby Williams Monday Atmore police received a complaint that an elderly female was robbed after being flagged down by another motorist on Pensacola Avenue. Shortly after this complaint, Escambia County authorities received a complaint of a similar incident in the Walnut Hill, Fla. area. Noting the similarities, investigators from both agencies conducted a joint investigation.
An anonymous tip led investigators to a residence on Madison Drive in Atmore where the vehicle believed to be used in the robberies was parked. Enough probable cause was obtained and a search warrant was issued for the residence. On Thursday enough evidence was collected from the residence to arrest Gentry.
Following his arrest, Gentry confessed to both robberies during questioning.
The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the APD and the Escambia County, Florida Sheriff's Department, Williams said.
Gentry is currently being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
For more information on this story, see Sunday's edition of the Atmore Advance.

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