A suspect has been arrested in connection to the Thursday night armed robbery at Tractor Supply Company. Christopher Marshall, 33, of Malvern was taken into custody about 4 p.m. Saturday at a hotel in Little Rock.
Marshall faces numerous charges, including: 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery, class Y felony; Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons, class B felony; 2 counts of Aggravated Assault, class D felony; 2 counts of False Imprisonment, class C felony; 3rd degree Battery, class A misdemeanor; and Theft of Property, class A misdemeanor.
At approximately 9:37 p.m. Thursday, August 10, officers with the Benton Police Department were dispatched to Tractor Supply Company, located at 17318 Interstate 30, for a report of an armed robbery, but the suspect had fled before officers’ arrival. Employees said after closing up the store, a black male wearing a mask came out of nearby bushes brandishing a handgun and ordered them into the store.
While inside the store, the suspect and two employees scuffled, during which the suspect reportedly received several stab wounds from a small knife. The suspect then fled the store on foot. Two employees received minor injuries, with one being transported to Saline Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Detectives with the Benton Police Department were able to locate Marshall as he checked into the Baptist Health Medical Center in Malvern for medical treatment. Once it was learned that Marshall was being transferred to a hospital in Little Rock due to his injuries, the decision was made to obtain a warrant for his arrest. Once released from the hospital in Little Rock he was tracked to a nearby hotel and was taken into custody.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the suspect or information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on iTunes and Google Play.
Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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