Ironton police nab robbery suspect

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Ironton police have arrested a suspect in an early morning robbery and hostage situation at a downtown gas station.

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Ironton police have arrested a suspect in an early morning robbery and hostage situation at a downtown gas station.

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Jerry Smith, 24, of Ironton, was arrested this morning after police negotiated with him for nearly three hours for his surrender.

At 3:30 a.m., an unidentified customer who attempted to enter Speedway at 720 S. Third St. – the same one robbed Nov 20 – became suspicious when the door was found locked, IPD detective Capt. Chris Bowman said.

Officers responded to the call at 3:32 a.m., according to police reports.

Bowman said officers forced their way inside.

"Once the officers were inside, they were advised by the attendant that she was being held at gunpoint," he said. "Smith was pointing something at her neck and she assumed it was a gun. We later found that it was a large ink pen."

Smith allegedly entered the gas station, locked the door and then forced the attendant into the office telling her he was armed and wanted the store’s money, Bowman said.

"We found the attendant and the robber located inside the office just behind the cash register," Bowman said. "Toward the end of the negotiations, he told us to give him another 30 minutes. At the end of the 30 minutes at approximately 6:11 a.m., he gave himself up."

Once arrested, a background check revealed Smith had several previous criminal convictions and was on probation, Bowman said.

"As of right now, we are charging him with aggravated robbery and kidnapping," he said.

Smith will be arraigned on the charges Thursday in Ironton Municipal Court.

, Bowman said.

Officials from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Coal Grove Police Department, Ohio Highway Patrol and Ironton Fire Department assisted during the incident.