A Conley man with outstanding warrants for armed robbery in other jurisdictions was apprehended Sept. 25 after committing an armed robbery at the Publix grocery store on Ga. Highway 74 in Tyrone.
Police Chief Brandon Perkins after the arrest put the armed robbery in perspective, noting that the town has a low armed robbery rate and is considered one of Georgia’s safest cities.
David Harrison, 27, of Conley, was arrested on armed robbery charges after leading Fayette County deputies on a foot chase in the area of the Kenwood Landing Mobile Home Park on Milam Road, according to Sheriff Barry Babb.
Perkins said Harrison entered the store at approximately 3:30 p.m. and proceeded to the customer service desk where he purchased cigarettes. Perkins said Harrison pulled up his shirt and revealed a handgun as the clerk was attempting to make change for the purchase.
At Harrison’s demand, the cashier put an undisclosed amount of money in a bag. Harrison then left the store, Perkins said, adding that there were no injuries to customers or employees.
Perkins said officers received a description of Harrison’s vehicle.
Babb said a deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description in the Kenwood Landing Mobile Home Park on Milam Road and approached it when Harrison exited and fled on foot. Harrison had the gun with him when he ran, Babb added.
Harrison fled on foot into the wooded area between the mobile home park and the railroad tracks to the south.
Deputies set up a perimeter and, with the assistance of K-9 units, apprehended Harrison at approximately 5 p.m., Babb said.
Babb said the deputies did not sustain any injuries during the apprehension.
Harrison has outstanding armed robbery warrants from two other Georgia jurisdictions, said Perkins.
Perkins after the robbery posted a statement on the police department’s website at http://www.tyronepd.org/news/tyrone-isnt-what-it-used-to-beits-better
Perkins said the department used social media to report the robbery to the community as a way to keep residents informed about crime and police activity and to highlight how safe the community is despite the occasional crime.
Commenting on posts by some pertaining to an increase in crime in the town, Perkins said, “Tyrone is no more dangerous now than it was when I came to work here from Fairburn in 1999. We have always had armed robberies, entering autos, car chases and burglaries and, due to the nature of our society, we always will. The only difference between the ‘good old days’ and now is that you just weren’t as likely to hear about it back then.”
Perkins attributed the enhanced exposure to crime today to the use of social media.
Providing stats for the past 15 years, Perkins said armed robberies in Tyrone have averaged 1.06 per year, with five of those years having no armed robberies and a high of three in 2011.
Perkins said Tyrone has been ranked among Georgia’s Top 10 safest cities.
