By Staff
CHASE Meridian police officer Jay Arrington points out the suspects' path to Acting Police Chief Benny DuBose as they walk away from the abandoned getaway car. All four tires were flattened in a high-speed chase with police. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
July 25, 2001
A high-speed car chase ended on foot Tuesday, as Meridian police arrested two men minutes after they allegedly robbed a Hardee's employee at gunpoint.
Lt. Wade Johnson of the Meridian Police Department said the robbery occurred at 10:52 a.m. at 2128 North Frontage Road.
The suspects were in custody at 11:03 a.m., he said.
Meridian police charged Raymond E. Sims, 26, of 4524 Highway 39 North, and Tyous Anderson, 20, of 7754 Lauderdale Toomsuba Road, with armed robbery.
Frightened employees
Minutes after the incident, a somber and shaken group gathered behind the counter at Hardee's. Managers said the robbery is the third at the restaurant since December.
The man cursed the employee and yelled for her to give him the money, Betty Johnson said. The woman dropped the money bag, her purse, keys and apron and ran back toward the restaurant.
It is the second time in the last two to three months the same employee has been robbed at gunpoint, General Manager Dorothy Grady said.
The chase
Lt. Johnson said a detective unit passing in front of Foodmax near Hardee's responded to the call. A patrol officer then saw the suspects' brown Nissan Altima near 18th Avenue and Fourth Street and pursued it, he said.
The Altima and cruiser turned north onto 13th Avenue. When they neared the 13th Street intersection, the Altima cut through the Ben Arthur Davis Park and crossed 14th Street, its tires leaving flattened grass in the park and skid marks on the pavement.
All four tires on the Altima burst in the chase, and the men abandoned the disabled car on 13th Avenue between 14th and 15th streets, fleeing through back yards on foot, Lt. Johnson said.
Sims was on foot, Lt. Johnson said, when he was struck by a police cruiser on 12th Avenue between 14th and 15th streets. He was transported to a local hospital, treated and released back into police custody.
Due to conflicting statements from witnesses, Lt. Johnson said, the Mississippi Highway Patrol will investigate the accident.
Police found Anderson hiding in the side yard of a nearby house. They recovered the money bag from the abandoned vehicle and a handgun from a nearby back yard, Lt. Johnson said.
Grady said the restaurant has an alarm system, "but you can't always think when you're in a panic."
Both Hardee's managers said they will talk to one of the company's regional leaders about providing additional security for the Frontage Road employees.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.