Arrests Made In Latta Robbery

By Betsy Finklea
A Sellers man and a Latta man have been charged in the robbery of a local business, according to Latta Police Chief Crystal Moore.
Christopher McRae, age 26, 507 Cecily Court, Sellers, and James Tyrone Smith, age 40, 407 South Sessions Street-No. 7, Latta, are charged with armed robbery.

On August 30th, Latta police were called to the Quick Stop, 211 South Richardson Street, in reference to an armed robbery, according to a report by Sgt. Bobby Jones.
Responding officers, Sgt. Jones and PFC Richard Lee, talked to the clerk. The clerk told police that two black males came into the store-one was armed with a handgun and one was armed with a large knife. The man with the gun forced a man in the store against the counter and put a gun to his head. Then he pointed the gun at the clerk. The man then forced the first man to the ground and turned back to the clerk, the report stated. The second suspect took his large knife and put it to the neck of woman, who recognized him and asked him what he was doing. He said they were going to rob the store. He walked her to the back of the store where her daughter was located. The suspect with the gun went behind the counter, pointed a gun to the head of the clerk and asked for the location of the safe. He was informed that there is no safe.
The clerk put the money from the cash register into a bag. The man with the gun took the bag and two cartons of Newport cigarettes. Both suspects fled on foot.
Suspect Christopher McRae turned himself in and was taken to the Dillon County Detention Center. The other suspect, Tyrone Smith, was picked up by Latta Police and the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office. Smith was also taken to the Dillon County Detention Center.  The report states that he had Newport cigarettes in his pocket, the same brand taken from the Quick Stop.