Man arrested after burglary near Florida border

Published 3:33 pm Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Century, Fla., man was arrested Thursday afternoon after fleeing an apparent burglary at a closed store just across the Alabama-Florida state line.

According to reports from the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received information of a burglary in progress at 12:11 p.m., at the closed State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Florida State Route 97 in Davisville.

Deputies arrived on the scene as the suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Joseph Steve Davis of Century, was trying to leave in his vehicle. At approximately 12:17 p.m., Atmore Police Department officers pulled Davis over during a traffic stop.

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Davis was taken into custody by the APD, and is facing alcohol-related charges. Additional charges of burglary of a business are currently pending with the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.

APD officers said that Davis reportedly stole beer from the store.

The store has been closed since its owner, Thomas Gerald Kroll, was shot and killed during a Nov. 6, 2012, robbery.