Police investigate armed robbery

Hot Springs police are investigating another daylight armed robbery that occurred Thursday, the second this week, this time involving a local variety store, although it is not believed the two are related.

Officers responded shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday to the Dollar General store, 617 Albert Pike, after an unidentified black male, wearing all black with his face covered, entered the store brandishing a handgun and demanded money, Cpl. Joey Williams said Friday.

The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction after being given an undisclosed

amount of money from the cash registers, he said, noting officers immediately began canvassing the area.

“We initially thought he was in one of the surrounding neighborhoods but we determined he had left the area,” Williams said. A K-9 officer also responded and attempted to track the suspect but was not successful, he said.

“If anyone saw anything, they need to call us. That’s a pretty busy time of day so we’re hoping there were witnesses,” he said. Anyone with any information should call police at 321-6789.

On Monday, around 2 p.m., officers responded to 1010 Liquor, located at 1010 Park Ave., where a black male wearing a black mask had entered the store armed with a pistol and demanded money, fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.

No one was injured in either incident. Williams said he didn’t think the two were connected.