Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

One Arrested In Armed Robbery

One person was arrested in the armed robbery of a Gurdon convenience store.

The incident occurred Sunday, Sept. 19, around 5:10 a.m., according to reports from the Gurdon Police Department.

The suspect entered the Redi-Mart on Highway 53, going to get a cup of coffee. When he went to the counter to pay for it, he told the clerk to give him all the money in the register or he would shoot her.

The clerk gave him about $200, with the suspect leaving on foot.

The GPD was called, with the investigation beginning around 8 a.m..

Sgt. Don Childres and patrolman Jim Edwards stopped a vehicle on Stovall Street, arresting a Charles Beard, 29.

At the time, Beard was living with his mother on Crayton Street. His clothing and a sum of money was recovered from the vehicle, with Beard being identified later by the clerk.

He is being held in the Clark County jail on charges of aggravated robbery. Beard, according to the report, has two prior arrests in Malvern for armed robbery.

Beard could be charged as a "three-time loser" under Arkansas's habitual criminal law, and face a longer jail sentence.