TWO ARMED ROBBERIES IN THOMASTON

ON THE THOMASTON POLICE BEAT--TAYLOR COUNTY DEPUTIES HELPED THE CITY OF THOMASTON CAPTURE AN ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT ON 19 SOUTH--43 YEAR OLD JOSEPH O. ROBERTS. THE PD REPORT SAYS ROBERTS ENTERED SOUTH SIDE BP GRABBED A BEER FROM THE COOLER AND REVEALED A HACHET--DEMANDING HIS MONEY FROM THE CLERK. THE CLERK JUMPED THE COUNTER TO FLEE--AND ROBERTS ALLEGEDLY THREATENED TWO LADIES PLAYING THE MACHINES--AND THEY FLED THE STORE. ROBERTS THEN SMASHED THE CASH REGISTER WITH THE HACHET, GRABBED THE CONTENTS AND FLED ON 19 SOUTH--TAKING THE CONTENTS $678 AND DESTROYING THE $8000 CASH REGISTER. LAWMAN TRACKED HIS WHERE-BOUTS IN TAYLOR COUNTY AND ARRESTED ROBERTS WHEN HE TURNED AROUND AND RETURNED TO UPSON COUNTY.

ANOTHER ARMED ROBBERY AT 304 ALLEN STREET WITH A $2000 PHONE STOLEN. A MALE SUBJECT TOLD POLICE A CAR LOAD OF MALES PULLED UP IN A WHITE SEDAN AND ONE OF THEM POINTED A PISTOL AT THE MALE AND HIT HIM UPSIDE THE HEAD WITH THE GUN--CAUSING HIM TO DROP HIS PHONE. THE PISTOL-WEILDING MALE GRABBED THE PHONE AND THEY DROVE OFF--TURNED AROUND AND FIRED A SHOT AT THE ALLEGED VICTIM LEAVING THE SCENE.

A FEMALE TOLD TPD SHE LOST $10 TO $14,000 WITH A FRAUDULENT PHONE SOLICIATION TELLING HER SHE HAD WON UP TO $150 MILLION FROM THE PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE. SHE SENT THEM TWO $500 GREEN DOT CARDS IN ORDER TO GET THE MONEY--AND WAS PLACED ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS AN OFFICIAL WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION--WHO WARNED HER NOT TO TELL THE COPS ABOUT THE TRANSACTIONS.