Fort Walton Beach Man Arrested Minutes After Robbing Gas Station
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. — On Tuesday, April 15, 2024, at approximately 8:17pm, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department responded to the Shell Gas Station located at 401 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, regarding a report of a robbery that had just occurred.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with the store clerk who stated a black male came in the store, walked behind the counter, and pulled out a can of pepper spray. The suspect held the can of pepper spray approximately 12 inches from her face and demanded she open the cash register. The robber grabbed a plastic bag with the words Thank You on it, placed the money as well as tobacco products in the bag and left the store on foot running westbound on Miracle Strip Parkway. The clerk described the robbery suspect as a black male wearing a blue shirt on his head, silver or gray wife beater tank top, dark colored pants, and dark colored shoes.
An officer in the area searching for the suspect observed a person, later identified as 21-year-old Jarious Tyreon Hill, walking westbound on the sidewalk of Miracle Strip Parkway that matched the description. When the officer turned his spotlight on Hill and activated his overhead emergency red and blue lights, Hill fled the area on foot.
After a brief foot chase, the officer took Hill into custody without further incident.
According to the arrest report, surveillance footage of the robbery showed a black male wearing a gray tank top, gray jeans and black shorts which is what Hill had on at the time of his arrest. When officers interviewed Hill, he admitted to stealing from the store because he had not eaten in a week.
Jarious Tyreon Hill has been charged with Robbery with a weapon and Resisting an Officer without violence. Hill was denied bond at first appearance and will remain in custody at the Okaloosa County Jail until felony plea day which is scheduled for May 21st according to the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts website.