Police arrest man for gas station robbery

Kelly Foreman
Register News Writer

May 22, 2008 07:51 am

— Richmond Police said Wednesday they have arrested a man they believe held two gas station clerks at gunpoint more than a year ago.
Jeffery Bristow, 44, of Lowery Heights is charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the March 18, 2007, robbery of Redi Mart on Red House Road. Bristow was identified as a suspect after RPD Detective Aaron Stidham received anonymous information that Bristow was involved.
“(The anonymous person) said that (Bristow) was bragging about doing it and they gave a little bit of details of the robbery that pretty much led me to believe it was true what they were telling me,” Stidham said.
That information led Stidham to bring Bristow in for questioning, which ultimately led to his arrest.
About 9:30 the night of the robbery, a male wearing a bandanna over his face and white gloves on his hands entered the gas station with a butcher knife and began demanding money from the male and female clerks, who were alone in the store at the time.
“She looks pretty frightened because he catches her off guard,” said RPD Maj. Steve Gregg in 2007, while reviewing video surveillance of the incident.
After the clerk handed the man an undisclosed amount of money, Gregg said the robber ran from the store, dropping cash in his attempt to escape.
“He didn’t put it in a bag or anything,” Gregg said.
RPD K-9 Officers tried to track the robber, but were unsuccessful. Evidence later indicated Bristow had disposed of his clothing — which included gray sweat pants, a blue jacket, gray hoodie and black shoes in addition to the bandanna and gloves — in a Third Street field shortly after the robbery.
Bristow is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center and did not have a bond set as of press time.
No one was injured in the robbery. At the time, police were suspicious of a late model vehicle, possibly a Ford Mustang, which was at the scene during the crime, but not there after the robber fled the building. Stidham said Wednesday that had been a false lead and that Bristow allegedly fled on foot.
Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.