Published: April 09, 2009 10:25 am      

Gun-wielding man, accomplice held for robbery

Two men have been charged in the armed robbery of $132 from a convenience store in Krebs on Tuesday.

Bobby Eugene Waller Jr., 19, of McAlester, is charged with first degree robbery of the clerk at EZ Mart on Electric Avenue at U.S. Highway 69. Charged as an accessory in the robbery is Christopher Shannon McLennan, 21, of Pittsburg.

The two were arrested after the van they were in was spotted moments after the holdup was broadcast to local police at 1:54 a.m. A jacket matching the description of the one worn by the robber and $132 in cash were found inside the vehicle.

Both men are also charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Police following the van reported a McDonald’s bag containing trash, food and a green leafy substance was thrown from the vehicle before it was stopped, according to an affidavit filed in the case by Krebs police officer Eli Hass.

Officers also found a .22 caliber revolver believed to have been used in the robbery.

According to Hass, the clerk reported the robber had gone into the store’s bathroom and came out with a hood over his head. “He walked in front of him and pointed a gun at him and told him to not touch a button,” the affidavit states.

On Tuesday, Krebs Police Chief Dennis Cook said quick action by McAlester and Krebs police, as well as cooperation from the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Department, helped solve the robbery. The van had been stopped by McAlester policeman Brian Greer, one of several officers responding to the broadcast about the hold-up.

Waller and McLennan were charged Wednesday afternoon and appeared in Pittsburg County District Court to plead innocent to the charges. Bond was set at $250,000 each by Special Judge Donnita Wynn pending a court conference on April 17.

Contact Kandra Wells at kwells@mcalesternews.com.