Tips Lead to Arrest of Fastop Market Robber

Deputies arrested the suspect in an armed robbery of the Fastop Market in Seymour after tips from the public helped identify him.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 22-year-old Martel D. Harris, of 618 Keener Road in Seymour, in connection with the armed robbery of the Fastop Market, 10623 Chapman Hwy., on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.

Harris reportedly brandished a handgun and grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash from the register drawer during the robbery. Although his face was covered, the clerk recognized the suspect had visited the store earlier in the day without concealing his identity and investigators were able to obtain photos and video of the suspect from store surveillance cameras.

After those photos and video footage were aired on local news and posted to social media, investigators received several tips that lead to the identification of the suspect and his subsequent arrest by deputies and members of the U.S. Marshals Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force.

“Sheriff Seals would like to thank the public for their assistance in identifying the suspect, which led to his quick arrest,” the department said in a release.

Harris is awaiting arraignment before a magistrate.

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