AUGUSTA — Police arrested a man on a robbery charge after an officer on patrol heard shouting and saw a man fleeing from the Big Apple on Civic Center Drive, followed by a store employee.

Jesse D. Nichols, 29, who police described as a transient who frequents Augusta, was arrested Sunday afternoon, a short time after Officer Jonathan Provisor spotted him fleeing from the store while on patrol in the Civic Center Drive and Townsend Road area, according to a news release.

Deputy Police Chief Kevin Lully said in the release Provisor heard shouting voices coming from the direction of the 146 Civic Center Drive convenience store and immediately saw a man fleeing from the store.

Lully said the store clerk later reported Nichols entered the store and demanded money. Lully said the initial police report did not indicate whether Nichols showed or indicated he had any sort of weapon on him at the time.

Nichols was arrested on a charge of robbery.

Despite the arrest, police ask that anyone who witnessed the incident, which occurred around 2:15 p.m. Sunday, contact Augusta’s Criminal Investigations Bureau at 626-2370, extension 3418.

Lully said the incident “is an excellent example of an officer diligently patrolling his district and remaining in tune to his surroundings.”

Four Augusta Police cruisers were in the store’s parking lot shortly after the robbery was reported, as many passersby slowed as they passed. The doors to the business were locked as police investigated.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647
[email protected]
Twitter: @kedwardskj