By: Shayla Terry

The Panola Lucky Dollar in Lapine was robbed last Friday afternoon with the suspect being captured almost immediately.

Terence Lewis Perry of Lapine has been charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree theft of property, and pistol possession of a violent felon.

Perry entered the store with a purple bandana covering his face. Lucky Dollar Manager Ashley Easterling, and a clerk were present during the robbery.

“I was cooking, and the clerk was at the counter when he came in with a purple scarf on,” Easterling said. “He grabbed the old man that was at the counter paying for his food, and slung him into the cooler. He then threw up his gun, and demanded all of our money.”

The clerk noticed that the gun being used for the robbery was a BB gun, and a tussle ensued.

Perry managed to take the store’s gun during the tussle, and assaulted an employee before fleeing the scene.

“He left and caught a ride to a residence on Upper Bozemen Road in Lapine, where he was captured and taken into custody,” said Crenshaw County Sheriff Mickey Powell.

Powell credits the community with helping them capture the suspect.

“We were able to contact the folks that took him to Upper Bozeman,” he said. “We located him at that residence less than 30 minutes after the call came through.”

Easterling says law enforcement was on the scene within five to six minutes.

“I was extremely proud of the job they did,” Easterling said. “People in this community were in shock, but they were very happy with how fast the Sheriff’s Department got here and caught the guy.”

Powell says the arrest was a joint effort of all first responders working together.

“This just goes to show what a group effort can work and how quickly things can happen,” he said.

“I thank the people of the community for assisting our staff, the deputies for locating Perry, and a special thanks to the 911 dispatchers for taking good information.”