Friendly chat with off-duty jailer by suspected robber led to quick arrest
TEXARKANA, Texas — A man scheduled for trial in Bowie County next week on an aggravated robbery charge was identified as the suspect because of a friendly conversation.
Kendrick Lamar Hill, 33, is accused of robbing an EZ Mart Nov. 6, 2019, in
Nash, Texas, shortly after a chat with a lieutenant at the Bowie County jail annex outside of the store, according to a probable cause affidavit. Following the robbery of cash from the store’s register at gunpoint, Nash police immediately reviewed video surveillance for clues.
Officers watching the video immediately noticed that their suspect stopped and struck up a conversation with the jail lieutenant before entering the store and pulling a black and silver handgun. The lieutenant was on his way out and the robber was on his way inside.
Investigators with Nash police quickly reached out to the lieutenant. The lieutenant allegedly easily identified the man he’d had a friendly chat with outside the convenience store as Hill. Court records show Hill has a lengthy history of arrests and criminal convictions in Bowie County dating back to 2007.
Because of prior convictions, prosecutors are seeking to enhance the punishment range in the robbery case from five to 99 years or life to 15 to 99 years or life.
Hill is being held in the Bowie County jail. Hill’s bail on the aggravated robbery charge is set at $100,000. Hill is also being held on motions to revoke probations he was serving for theft of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Defendants being held on a motion to revoke probation are not entitled to bond.
Hill’s case is scheduled for jury selection Tuesday before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. He is represented by the Bowie County Public Defenders Office. First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards are prosecuting.