Screen grabs from a security camera show the three suspects during the robbery at the Golden Pantry convenience store on Historic Homer Highway March 3, 2016. (PHOTO/Banks County Sheriff’s Office)
Four teenagers are behind bars charged in connection with two armed robberies at convenience stores in Athens and Homer on March 3.
According to a press release issued by Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed, the arrests were made as part of a joint operation between Banks County investigators and Athens-Clarke County Police Department personnel.
Speed says the suspects were arrested at different locations in Athens. 18-year old Dillion Alonzo Harper was arrested at 140 Hollow Ridge Drive in Athens. Harper’s history shows that he previously lived in the Commerce area. 17-year old Ladarius Clark was arrested at 1400 Town Square in Athens. Two juveniles, ages 15 and 16, were both also detained in Athens.
Authorities were originally searching for three suspects after they were captured on surveillance video holding up the Golden Pantry on Historic Homer Highway around 12:44 a.m. Thursday. They were wearing bandannas over their faces and were armed with handguns.
That robbery prompted a ground and aerial search that was called off after several hours when K9’s failed to pick up a scent.
Less than three hours later it’s believed the same suspects held up the Golden Pantry on Barnett Shoals Road in east Athens. According to onlineathens.com, an employee reportedly told police she was at the store’s drink station around 3:30 a.m. on March 3 when someone came up from behind and stuck a gun to her head. Police said she was ordered to open the registers. Two of the robbers held her at gunpoint while the third took the money.
All of the suspects are charged with armed robbery and Speed says additional charges are pending.
Harper and Clark are being housed at the Clarke County Jail while the juveniles are being housed at a juvenile facility in Gainesville.
