Convenience Store Employees Beat and Detain Armed Robber with Golf Club, Sticks

A Seymour man is recovering in jail from a beating he received at the hands of Speedway Market employees after he allegedly tried to rob the convenience store with a knife.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office says officers responded to a robbery call at Speedway Market, 626 Maryville Hwy. in Seymour, Tenn., just after 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. Upon arrival, officers found several people with clubs and sticks surrounding a man inside in a green Honda passenger car, whom the people said was the robber. Officers removed the subject from the car and detained him.

The owner of the store told police that the subject entered the store wielding a knife, came around the counter and placing the knife to a female employee’s neck, demanded money. The store owner and another employee began striking the subject with a golf club and axe handle, chasing him into the parking lot where they detained him until officers arrived.

According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, the perpetrator was identified as 39-year-old Charles Anthony Richards of 11735 Chapman Hwy. in Seymour.

Richards suffered several lacerations and bruises on his arms, back and head and also a possible fractured arm. He was transported to UT Medical Center where during an interview by detectives, he gave incriminating statements regarding the robbery.

Detectives were able to link Richards to another armed robbery, which occurred 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 at the Fastop Market on Chapman Hwy. in Seymour. In that case, the suspect entered the store wearing a blue bandana over his face, black toboggan hat and sunglasses. Brandishing a knife, he demanded the clerk give him money and cigarettes. The clerk complied and the subject fled the store with an undisclosed amount of money and six cartons of cigarettes, getting away in a green passenger car with the tag covered.

Richards was released from the hospital and has been charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of aggravated assault. He is held in the Sevier County Jail pending a bond hearing in General Sessions Court on Nov. 16.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.