Suspect photo courtesy of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office
STAFF REPORT :::
Officials say a drug deal gone bad resulted in an armed robbery in Pike County Friday afternoon.
Deputies of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an armed robbery at a Coggins Street residence just past 3 p.m.
The alleged victim reported having been robbed at gunpoint of several hundred dollars.
Authorities say they determined the robbery resulted from a drug deal gone bad.
According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was alleged to have been delivering marijuana to the man when he instead pointed a handgun at his head and demanded his money.
They say that after obtaining his wallet, the man fled the scene in a silver Mustang.
Investigators identified the suspect as 19-year-old Anthony Watts, of Spalding County.
The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and assisted PCSO investigators who went to a Spalding residence in an attempt to locate Watts.
While at the Spalding County residence, Watts was spotted driving the silver Mustang on Old Atlanta Road.
After spotting law enforcement officials, Watts allegedly fled the area. The vehicle pursuit ended when a PIT maneuver was performed by a Spalding County deputy.
Watts was taken into custody and will face charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
He is being held in the Pike County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.
Watts will face additional fleeing and attempting to elude charges in Spalding County.
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