Crime & Safety
Gun-Toting Robber Takes $7 From House Springs Gas Station
While the thief made it outside with the cash, the Quick Stop owner retrieved his own gun and held the man until Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies arrived.
Updated: Sept. 24, 5 p.m.
[Editor's note: The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office previously said the suspect was from Grubville, Mo., before Brown was formally charged.]
The Raetta Quick Stop in House Springs was the scene of an armed robbery Tuesday morning, though the business's owner successfully turned the tables on the thief.
Gerald Brown, 26, of Morse Mill, Mo., walked into the convenience store around 9:45 a.m. displaying a handgun, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The man took $7 from the clerk, police said.
After Brown left, the business's owner retrieved his own handgun and "held the subject until deputies arrived," according to the report. The officers' response time was roughly a minute because officers were already in the area.
Officers recovered the gun and the stolen cash. Brown was transported to Jefferson County Jail. He is being charged with robbery in the first degree and armed criminal action. His bond was set at $50,000.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.