Armed robbery suspect arrested

Detective Sgt. Brian Crews inspects the bag of clothing which Justin Pickle is accused of throwing into Duck River following an armed robbery Thursday night.
(T-G Photo by David Melson)

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Justin Pickle, 24, of Central Avenue is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of aggravated robbery and felon in possession of a weapon, Shelbyville police said.

Pickle entered Wedge Market, Belmont Avenue, about 9 p.m. and demanded money, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews said.

"He came into the store wearing all black with a shirt wrapped around his face," the clerk told officer Tory Moore. "He had a small black pistol in his right hand and told everyone to get back. He then told the clerk to give him all the cash in the till." The report indicated approximately $100 was taken.

"She pulled the cash out and put it on the counter, then told her to stack it up. She did so, and he grabbed the money, then left the building and went left toward Belmont."

One of the customers told Moore the suspect came in behind him, pointed the gun at his head and told him to get back. A second customer, who was at the counter with his wallet out and $20 lying atop it, was told to "back off." The robber took the $20, Moore said.

Store security video shows Pickle entering the store behind and pointing the pistol at a customer, then waving it around and approaching the counter, investigators said.

The suspect left the store on foot toward Belmont Avenue, officers were told. Police responded to a panic alarm from the store at 9:02 p.m. and searched the area near the store but were initially unable to find anyone matching the description.

Detectives viewed store security and identified Pickle as a suspect.

"At 11:40 p.m. Chucky (Detective Charles Merlo) and I saw a vehicle with Justin Pickle in it on Depot Street," Detective Sgt. Brian Crews said.

Pickle and the car's driver, Kayla Dawn Brewer, 20, of Cortner Road were arrested during a felony traffic stop on McGrew Street. Pickle had the stolen money on him at the time, Crews said.

"We brought them to the police department and questioned them," Crews said. "She admitted she was the driver of the arrival and getaway car and told us where we could find the clothing he had worn and weapon. We found the weapon at the river access on Highway 82 at the soccer fields.

"He put the clothing he had worn in a garbage sack, tied it with a knot and threw it into Duck River at Fisherman's Park. It floated into a swell in the river near Save-A-Lot where Sgt. James Wilkerson, Lt. Jason Williams, officer Tory Moore and others found it about 4:30 a.m. Friday."

Pickle is being held at Bedford County Jail on $250,000 bond. Brewer was charged with criminal responsibility for conduct of another and is in custody on $25,000 bond.

Earlier incident

A police report indicates Pickle sought treatment for a cut at Heritage Medical Center following an incident early Wednesday.

Pickle told police he was walking near Magnolia Village Apartments, Landers Street, around 2 a.m. when three men got out of a passing vehicle and one cut him on the left arm with a butterfly knife. Pickle hit back and knocked out the suspect, he told police, then got into an altercation with two men and a woman inside the car.