Three charged after robbery reported at Family Dollar in Oliver Springs

Note: This story was last updated at 7:40 p.m.

Three people have been charged after a robbery was reported at Family Dollar in Oliver Springs on Wednesday night, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 10:04 p.m. Wednesday at the store, which is at 51 Edmonds Drive in Oliver Springs.

When they arrived, Sergeant Kevin Armes and Patrolman Nathaniel Nelson of the Oliver Springs Police Department were told that, after closing and while the cashiers were doing the money count, a masked man came from the back of the store and ordered both employees to the floor and demanded all the money and cell phones, a press release said. After receiving all the cash from the register and safe, he reportedly left the store through the back, the release said.

After he arrived, OSPD Lieutenant David Laxton was able to view all the security footage from the store, the release said.

“After watching the video and speaking with the two employees, Lt. Laxton was able to identify several inconsistencies between employee Racheal Weir’s statement and the video,” the release said. “Ms. Weir was transported to the Oliver Springs Police Department to be interviewed. During the interview, Lt. Laxton was able to learn that the male subject involved was Steven Scruggs and his address.”

Laxton, Armes, and Nelson—along with members of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and Oak Ridge Police Department—went to Scruggs’ residence on Midway Drive in Oliver Springs, where they made contact with Scruggs, 31, of Midway Drive, and Patricia Rhea, 35, also of Midway Drive, the press release said.

“During a search of the residence, officers located the mask used during the robbery and money taken,” the release said.

Scruggs was charged with robbery, theft over $1,000, and false imprisonment. Rhea and Weir, 30, of Burney Drive in Oliver Springs, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and criminal facilitation of a felony, the release said.

“During the investigation, it was learned that Mr. Scruggs also attempted the robbery on Monday, July 18,” the release said. “After viewing the video from that day, Lt. Laxton was able to locate and view the attempt, and Mr. Scruggs was charged with attempted robbery.”

Scruggs, Rhea, and Weir remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Thursday evening.

OSPD Chief Kenneth Morgan said officers did great work, with less than four hours from the time of the robbery to the arrest and recovery of the money.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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