A 34-year-old man arrested in the robbery of an Arkansas discount store is also a suspect in a homicide investigation, authorities say.
In a news release, Arkansas State Police said Brinkley officers responded to a holdup at a Family Dollar Store just before 11 a.m. Sunday.
During their investigation, police determined that the robber was driving a Toyota sedan. According to the release, an officer tried to stop a car matching that description on U.S. 79., but the driver fled.
The driver, later identified as Larry Watts, crashed and left the scene on foot, police said. He was eventually taken into custody by an Arkansas Game and Fish officer, according to the release.
Jail records show that Watts, who is from Forrest City, was booked into the Monroe County jail around 6:20 p.m. He remained there Tuesday afternoon.
State police said they now believe Watts stole the sedan from 78-year-old Arnold Gwathney, who was killed Sunday.
Though Watts has been charged with aggravated robbery, he has not been charged in the homicide, according to Monroe County prosecutor Fletcher Long.
The cause and location of Gwathney's death are still being investigated, state police spokeswoman Liz Chapman said.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
