Tyler

By ASHLIE OSBURN
Staff Writer

A man last known to be wearing a T-shirt, an orange fanny pack and tennis shoes was last seen near Bellwood Road after robbing a Tyler merchant Wednesday afternoon.

Police say they found the man’s pants in a wooded area, but K9s were not able to track down the suspect.

Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Don Martin said the man, believed to be armed, robbed the Family Dollar in the Westwood Shopping Center at the corner of SSW Loop 323 and Texas Highway 31 West at 12:42 p.m. on Wednesday.

The suspect is a black male in his late 20s to 30s, tall with a slender build, wearing a do-rag, black T-shirt and blue jeans. Martin said the suspect entered the store, took an item and acted as though he would pay.

He then raised his shirt, displaying an orange fanny pack, which appeared to contain a gun, and shouted “Give me all your money.”

The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money and fled into a wooded area behind the store, where he shed most of his clothing.

Tyler police officers and a trained K9 searched the area for the suspect and found articles of his clothing strewn in the wooded area, Martin said.

The Tyler Police Department does not believe this robbery is connected with other local bargain store robberies.

Staff Writer Kenneth Dean contributed to this story.

Tyler Police Department converged on the Family Dollar Store at the Westwood Shopping Center after a 12:42 p.m. call reporting an armed robbery on Wednesday.
(Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero)