Armed robbery suspect in custody

An Atlanta man is behind bars after he robbed a liquor store while brandishing a handgun  Jan. 7.

Deputies and investigators with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office responded to State Line Liquors on Highway 179A in reference to an armed robbery.

Video surveillance showed a suspect entering the store wearing a mask, brandishing a firearm and demanding money. The suspect left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash, took off in the store owner’s vehicle and fled toward Alabama.

Holmes County communications officers quickly put out a BOLO of the vehicle to surrounding agencies in Alabama.

Within minutes,  the Geneva Police Department and Geneva County Sheriff’s Office located the stolen vehicle abandoned on Ward Street in Geneva.

A subject matching the description of the suspect was found walking down the road a short distance from the abandoned vehicle. The suspect was found carrying a bag with a large amount of cash from the liquor store.

The man was identified as Sterling Lamont Hall from Atlanta.

According to HCSO, Hall stated to investigators that he was homeless and robbed the store because he needed money.

Hall was transported to Geneva County Jail and will await extradition back to Holmes County on charges of armed robbery, grand theft auto and felon in possession of a firearm. All stolen items  were recovered and returned to the owner.

Sheriff John Tate would like to thank the Geneva Police Department and the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the arrest.