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Robbery suspects pointed guns at clerk, manager says

June 20, 2012|By STEPHANIE MOJICA | smojica@amnews.com

The three teenagers who allegedly robbed Bluegrass Truck Stop in Danville at gunpoint Tuesday pointed guns at a clerk’s face, according to the store manager.

Police say Kenneth M. Williams, 18, of Harrodsburg; Raymarcause L. Simon, 18, of Danville; and a 17-year-old boy all entered the Stewarts Lane store with guns and demanded money about 1:40 a.m.

The surveillance video shows the trio pointing guns in the clerk’s face and threatening his life, according to Sarah Godman, who has managed the truck stop for six years. The clerk, 21-year-old Austin Sneed, is Godman’s son. He was unavailable for comment this morning.

The suspects allegedly fled in a black sport-utility vehicle, which they wrecked near the scene. Boyle County Deputy Sheriff Dustin Clem quickly arrested the suspects, who were all charged with first-degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence. Williams and Simon also were charged with unlawful transaction with a minor.

“What really bothers me is people say the 17-year-old is a child,” Godman said. “But what people don’t understand is these guys could have killed my baby.”

Godman as well as Danville Assistant Police Chief Tom Bustle said it was only in recent months that the truck stop was a target for armed robbery. The first incident happened in December, but the suspect was never caught.

The second robbery was in March. Jonathan Tyler, 26, of Danville is awaiting trial on a first-degree robbery charge.

Police quickly caught the suspects behind the second and third robberies because they regularly patrol the area, Godman said.

“I can’t thank the police enough for getting all of these criminals behind bars so quickly,” Godman said. “Actually, considering how often police patrol the area, it would seem rather foolish for someone to rob our store in the first place.”

Godman declined to discuss how much money was taken in any of the robberies. She believes the crimes are drug-related.

“If you look at these videos, their eyes don’t even look human,” Godman said. “That quick, my son could have been 6 feet under, all because someone wanted to get stoned.”

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