Third armed robbery in two days believed to be same suspect
Hot Springs police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Wednesday evening at a local Dollar General, the third such armed robbery in two days that police believe is the work of the same suspect, Sgt. Scott Lampinen with HSPD violent crimes, said Thursday.
At around 6:23 p.m., police responded to Dollar General, 617 Albert Pike Road, regarding a robbery that had just occurred where a male suspect entered the store, brandished a firearm at the clerk at the front counter and then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money, Lampinen said, noting no one was injured in the incident.
The suspect, who is possibly Hispanic, was wearing all black clothing with white gloves and is believed to be the same suspect who robbed the E-Z Mart at 505 Summer St. and the Waffle House at 2017 Central Ave. between 4 and 4:30 a.m. early Tuesday. No one was injured in either of the earlier incidents, but the suspect was armed with a handgun each time.
“Based on evidence at the scene and some other similarities in the case we believe this is going to be the same suspect,” Lampinen said.
The suspect fled into the woods behind Dollar General after committing the robbery and a police K-9 was able to track his trail to a residence in the 100 block of Main Street, he said.
Officers set up a perimeter around the area and obtained and executed a search warrant for the residence. While they were able to collect some evidence, the suspect was not located at that time and no arrests have been made.
Lampinen said the suspect is believed to be 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 7 inches, in height, weighing about 180 pounds, and at each robbery wore essentially the same clothing, with his face partially covered each time.
Anyone with any information about any of the robberies or a possible suspect in the case should contact Lampinen at 501-651-7711, he said.