High number of armed robberies plagues area
By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
Jan. 19, 2001
Meridian police are searching for suspects in yet another area armed robbery, one of dozens that have plagued law enforcement officials in recent months.
The robbery occurred Thursday about 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Popeye's Fried Chicken restaurant at 700 Bonita Drive, said Lt. Lee Currie.
Currie said a white man and a black man approached another man in the parking lot as he exited his car to go into the restaurant and asked for directions.
Currie said the two men then fled on foot. They were last seen heading toward McDonald's on Highway 19 South.
The white man is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, wearing a brown jacket and tan pants. The black man is described as 6 feet tall, wearing a black sports jacket and a black skull cap.
Currie said the Meridian area has been experiencing an unusually high number of armed robberies in the last several months.
Currie said the difficulty in catching robbers lies in the time it takes to get to the scene.
Currie said residents can help by sharing information with police, even if they think it is insignificant.
Residents can also lend a hand by being particularly watchful and alert. For example, convenience store clerks should not hesitate to call police when customers are acting suspicious, he said. An officer's presence at the store could thwart a robbery or robbers who are checking out the store to rob at a later date.
Anyone with information should call CrimeStoppers at 485-1860.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.