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Labor Day robber leads lawmen on 100 mph chase
According to Jackson Police Chief Charles Burge, Fulton Holmes Jr., 21, of Mt. Vernon is charged with firstdegree robbery in connection with the incident at Sonic and faces other charges in Washington County as well. Burge said around 7:15 a.m., Monday, Sept. 1, the Washington County Sheriff's Office notified his department of an attempted robbery at Harris Grocery in Wagarville and that the suspect was northbound on U.S. Highway 43 in a red vehicle. Jackson Police Sgt. Josh Garrett set up on the Clarke County side of the Tombigbee River bridge. Officer Ben Marshall was headed to the intersection of Highway 43 and Ocre Avenue, when the department received a call around 7:24 a.m. that the Sonic had been robbed. Officer Marshall turned onto Ocre Avenue and observed a red automobile occupied by a white male. The car and driver fit the description provided to police by Sonic employees. Chief Burge said Holmes is accused of entering the Sonic, with a gun and demanding money. One clerk asked the suspect to stop waving his gun around and also inquired if she could finish waiting on a customer at the drive-up window. Holmes reportedly agreed and when the clerk handed the customer his order she told him they were being robbed and to call the police. The customer did what the clerk asked and Jackson Police responded. In the meantime, a second Sonic clerk said he would get the robber his money and called police when he went to the back of the building. Holmes apparently became apprehensive and left before obtaining any money, fleeing in his 2008 red Toyota Corolla down Ocre Avenue toward Highway 43. That's when he was met by Officer Marshall. Holmes headed north on 43. Marshall made an unsuccessful attempt to stop him near the College Avenue intersection. The suspect then made a u-turn at Highway 43 and Bellview, heading south. Marshall gave chase and Sgt. Garrett joined him. With speeds reaching approximately 100 mph, the Washington County Sheriff and McIntosh Police departments were notified. After crossing into Washington County, the suspect reportedly drove south in the northbound lane for sometime. In Wagarville Washington County Deputy Tony Porko was investigating the incident at Harris Grocery when he observed Holmes' vehicle being pursued by the two Jackson patrolmen. He joined the chase, as did Deputy Tommy Johnson a short time later. As Holmes approached the McIntosh jurisdiction, he switched back to the southbound side of U.S. 43. Officer Brad Singleton deployed a set of spike strips in an attempt to puncture the suspect's tires and end the chase. The two passenger side tires were punctured, greatly reducing the automobile's speed, but Holmes continued to drive south on his rims. Sometime during the chase, the front passenger side window of the vehicle was blown out. Although unconfirmed, it is believed Holmes may have shot out the window in an attempt to shoot at the pursuing Jackson officers. The chase continued to Mt. Vernon, where Holmes turned onto Weaver Road. That portion of the chase ended when Holmes reached the dead end of Weaver Road. The suspect jumped from his vehicle and fled into the woods near a residence, later determined to be where he lived with his father, Fulton Holmes Sr. Burge said the Mobile County Sheriff's Department had units in the area, which also responded. Their canine unit was also contacted and was responding to the scene, when Holmes Sr. came out of the residence and told the officers his son was inside.
Officers found the younger Holmes hiding in the attic of the house and placed him under arrest. As of Tuesday, he was being held in the Jackson City Jail. He is charged with first degree robbery, which if convicted, carries a minimum sentence of 20 years.
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