By By Adam Prestridge
Officers with the Atmore Police Department arrested an Atmore man Thursday afternoon for the robbery of two women in separate incidences Monday.
Jeffrey Daniel Gentry, 29, of Atmore was taken into custody Thursday following a search warrant of his home and later, during questioning, admitted to both crimes.
According to APD Investigator Robby Williams, last Monday Atmore dispatchers 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.
Glendean Harrison’s purse was stolen by the suspect after she pulled her vehicle over on Pensacola Avenue at 3:45 p.m. for him to assist her with what he made seem were car troubles. Once stopped, he pushed her back into her vehicle and stole her purse. In Walnut Hill, Fla., he again stopped a female driver, entered her car and took a small amount of cash from the victim.
An anonymous tip led investigators to a residence on Madison Drive in Atmore where the vehicle believed to have 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.
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 on third-degree robbery charges.