Arrest made in area armed robberies

By By Chris Allen Baker / staff writer
March 31, 2002
A suspect in a number of armed robberies turned himself in to Kemper County sheriff's deputies Saturday.
Eric McDonald, 23, of Rt. 1 Box 316, Lauderdale, was arrested based on a Lauderdale County warrant, according to chief deputy Ronnie Rankins of the Kemper County Sheriff's Department. Bond had not been set as of Saturday night.
Maj. Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, said McDonald was wanted for violating probation he was under due to a prior armed robbery conviction. Calhoun said Lauderdale County deputies were also seeking McDonald in connection with several recent armed robberies.
McDonald was arrested without incident, Rankins said.
McDonald called again Saturday and Kemper County Deputy Arnold Jenkins was dispatched to make the arrest.
Rankins said McDonald was sought in connection with an armed robbery of a Texaco in Scooba last week. That robbery is under investigation by Kemper County and the Scooba Police Department.
In the robbery, Rankins said a man matching McDonald's description went into the Texaco, bought a few items and left. He then returned with a shotgun and took about $800 from the clerk.
Rankins and Calhoun said their investigations are still under way.