Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

Police say they received a break in a rash of Sunday robberies when the alleged suspect committed a “bonehead” move by leaving his Social Security card in a victim’s wallet.

The wallet, officials said, was left in the seat of a stolen car the suspect abandoned during a confrontation with the vehicle’s owner.

Tyler Police Public Information Officer Don Martin said patrol officers apprehended Roy Lee Robertson, 26, on robbery warrants Monday afternoon during a routine traffic stop on South Broadway Avenue.

Martin said Robertson was wanted in connection with the Sunday morning robbery of E-Z Mart at 351 S. Glenwood Ave. about 5:22 p.m., but is also being charged with stealing a car from a driveway in the 800 block of West Shaw Street, the attempted robbery of Jack in the Box at 121 NNW Loop 323 and an aggravated assault.

“We haven’t charged him yet, but every indication is that he robbed the taxi driver early Sunday morning and began this crime spree,” he said.

After the 12:40 a.m. robbery of the taxi driver in the 1500 block of North Englewood Avenue, Robertson is believed to have gone to the Exxon at 1516 S. Vine St., about 4 a.m. and demanded cash, indicating he had a weapon.

At 6 a.m. Robertson went to the home in the 800 block of West Shaw Street and found a vehicle that the owner had running to warm up in the driveway.

Martin said the owner came outside to see his car peeling away down the street.
Almost 12 hours would lapse before Robertson showed up at the Jack in the Box on the Loop where he allegedly walked into the restaurant and demanded cash.

“The clerk thought he was joking and started laughing at him, because she said it looked like he had his finger in his shirt,” Martin said.

The dejected criminal fled the eatery and disappeared again for about two hours until the owner of the stolen vehicle saw Robertson in his car and confronted him.

“The victim was out driving around and saw his car and confronted the suspect and asked the suspect why he was driving his car,” he said.

Martin said the suspect attempted to get away, but the victim followed so Robertson rammed into the other vehicle several times forcing the victim off the road.

When the vehicle wrecked, Robertson fled on foot leaving the victim’s wallet behind.
Police asked the victim to see if he was missing anything in his wallet and that is when Robertson’s Social Security card was found.

“That is how we knew who our suspect was,” Martin said.

Robertson, who has a lengthy criminal history including robbery, theft, narcotics, indecency and other charges, has been booked into the Smith County Jail on robbery charges and remains confined on a $500,000 bond.

Martin said Robertson faces additional charges including robbery, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and aggravated assault.

Because Robertson had the man’s wallet, detectives are looking to see if the victim’s credit cards were used by the suspect.

Roy Lee Robertson Jr.
(Courtesy Smith County Sheriff)