Authorities investigating alleged robbery

By PAUL STONE
The Palestine Herald

PALESTINE March 26, 2009 01:28 am

— Anderson County sheriff’s authorities are investigating an alleged robbery on Tuesday afternoon during which the complainant says he had $1,500 cash and a cell phone taken.
The robbery occurred at the Hickory Ridge Trailer Park on FM 320, north of Palestine, shortly after 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.
The alleged victim -- a 26-year-old man listing a Larue address -- told authorities that four persons participated in the taking of his wallet, which he said included $1,500 cash, and cell phone.
The alleged attackers included two men and two women, according to authorities.
“They grabbed our complainant and threw him to the floor and held him down,” Taylor said. “They took his billfold out of his pocket and his cell phone.”
The group then fled the scene in “a light blue four-door Ford” car, according to the sheriff.
The alleged victim’s ex-wife, who was a witness, subsequently called the stolen cell phone and spoke with one of the alleged attackers who was known to her, according to Taylor. She advised him they had stolen her child support money, he continued.
A short time later, Anderson County sheriff’s deputies Charles Richardson and Ronnie Howell went to a residence on FM 1817 in Elkhart in an effort to locate one of the suspects, according to the sheriff.
The suspect, 26-year-old Lance Wayne Pernell of Palestine, fled on foot into the woods, but was captured after a short pursuit, Taylor stated.
Pernell has been charged with evading arrest or detention and could ultimately be charged with aggravated robbery, according to the sheriff.
The alleged victim’s cell phone was recovered, but no cash, Taylor stated.
Authorities are attempting to identify the other three suspects, and the investigation continues, Taylor said.
Prior to the robbery, the sheriff said the alleged victim reported that he had received a telephone call from a female caller advising she was en route to the trailer park to pay him some money he was owed.
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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com