MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — An employee of a business that was robbed Wednesday night believes that the armed suspect was in the business earlier this week.
The employee, who wants to remain anonymous, works at the U-Totem convenience store on Highway 385 in Bennettsville.
She said the man walked in the store Tuesday morning wearing a face mask and made a purchase.
“I did remember him because he’s standing in front of me, talking to me. And he didn’t say much words because he acted like he was shy,” she said.
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She said walked around the store and put a cigar on the counter.
“He just come in and look around a little bit, and he look around and then he come up here and got a cigar. Didn’t have enough money to get it. And I helped them out.”
The employee he then left after his purchase, but she said she felt something wasn’t right with him.
She was shocked when she saw the surveillance picture of the robbery suspect. The woman said he appeared to have on the same jacket and face mask the day she saw him.
“Then I was saying, well dang. That dude just in the store. A few mornings ago. The same jacket, same face. And I don’t know if it was, dress pants or jean pants. He had on, but they were dark.”
She added that she had never seen the man come into the store before this week. She said she knows many of her customers and he didn’t look familiar.
The manhunt for the suspect began Wednesday evening, according to Chief Deputy Larry Turner.
He said the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office and its bloodhound team, Bennettsville Police and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted with the manhunt. At one point, a SLED helicopter was flying over the highway.
Turner said the man robbed the store and they believe he left on foot.
He said law enforcement tracked the suspect to a residential neighborhood but ultimately lost the scent.
The Sheriff’s Office announced law enforcement suspended the manhunt around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday.
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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division tracking team recovered clothing, most of the stolen currency, and the victim’s cellphone taken during the robbery.
Anyone who observes something suspicious or has any information about the suspect is asked to contact 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line at (843) 479-9999.
You can also call the MCSO TIP LINE at (843) 897-4818.
