KENNY BATTLE

An armed robbery suspect’s run was short-lived Tuesday morning when coordinating county and municipal law enforcement agencies worked together to apprehend him.

At 11:39, Toombs dispatch received a call regarding an armed robbery at the Open-Air market on South State Street in Lyons. The caller stated a black male had come into the store with a gun and robbed the clerk. Lyons Police arrived and quickly issued a call to be on the lookout for a white Chrysler 200 along with the tag number.

Fourteen minutes later, Toombs Dispatch received a call basically identical to the first call, but this timeat the call was regarding an armed robbery at the Normantown convenience store. The store clerk there gave information matching that of earlier robbery and said the thief left in the car heading back toward Lyons.

Toombs County Deputies responded to that call, and Lt. Wendell Beasley was able to spot a vehicle fitting the description provided. He initiated a traffic stop  with the suspect’s vehicle on Hwy. 130 East, and as  he was conducting the a traffic stop, other deputies arrived.  Lt. Beasley, Sheriff Alvie Kight, and Capt. Jordan Kight were able to apprehend the suspected robber who has been identified as  Kenny Battle, of Vidalia.

Inside Battle’s vehicle, officers located a Glock pistol, an undisclosed amount of cash, and clothing items linking him to the information presented to law enforcement by both store clerks. Deputies also discovered that Battle had used white caulk on one of the letters on this license plate in an attempt to conceal the identity of the vehicle.

Battle was transported to the Toombs County Detention Center where he is being charged with armed robbery and other multiple felonies. These cases are still evolving as both Lyons Police and the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office continue their investigations.

 Neither of the store clerks were harmed in the robberies.