Published on Thursday, June 22, 2006
in the WCTV News

Robbery Suspect Leads Deputies on Chase

James Gable is arrested after deputies say he robbed a convenience store, then led them on a chase across the Parkway and into the woods.

"We set up a perimeter and called out the air support unit, the sheriff's helicopter," said SGT Chris Chase with the Leon County Sheriff's Office.

It all started Wednesday morning. Deputies say Gable walked into the Pan Convenience Store on Apalachee Parkway. They say he struck the clerk, grabbed the cash register, then took off on foot.

"I deployed the canine Ozzy and we went over the fence and into the woods where we began to track," said Richard Elliott, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

Within a half hour search crews recovered the cash and the suspect's hat. Moments later the suspect, who was hiding out, saw the canine and then dropped to the ground and surrendered.

"We were glad we were able to assist in catching the subject, so this way he's gonna be behind bars and he won't be robbing anybody else for a while," said Elliott.

Elliott says it took good police work by both agencies and both agencies' four legged officers.

"When we got back to the truck, he got a couple play toys; we go ahead and play with so he knows he did a good job."