Robber hid in closet, police say

Atlanta police arrested an armed robbery suspect after officers saw him run from a Buckhead pizza shop and found him hiding in a maintenance closet.

Michael Antonio Rolax was arrested early Friday morning not long after an employee at Sarpino’s Pizzeria said a man put a gun to his head and grabbed cash from the register.

Officers were flagged down by two other victims when they arrived at the Piedmont Road location about 3 a.m. The victims told police a man ran up to them and attempted to start a fight. When they fought back, the man allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at them. He then took off running.

Investigators believe the same man robbed Sarpino’s at gunpoint. The employee said the gunman entered while they were closing for the night and was not wearing any shoes.

“Officers canvassing the area observed a male running from the rear of the location back towards the parking deck near the address where the alleged robbery took place,” police said in a Facebook post. “The officers eventually located the suspect in a maintenance closet at a nearby apartment complex.”

When the officers opened the closet, they reportedly found Rolax lying on the floor with a gun in his lap and money in his hand. His clothing, and lack of footwear, matched the description provided by the Sarpino’s employee.

They later found more cash scattered on the street where the two victims were allegedly assaulted, along with shell casings. Rolax was arrested without incident. The Lithonia man faces multiple counts of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.