A South Charleston man allegedly robbed Spiro's in Alum Creek at knifepoint on Monday night.
Robert Allen Childress, 37, was charged with first-degree robbery and malicious assault for the alleged incident, as well as driving on a suspended operator's license, no proof of insurance and defective equipment, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Monday night, he allegedly entered Spiro's at 2001 Childress Road, demanded money from the cash drawer, and grabbed a customer, Melissa Harless, from behind and placed the knife to her neck. When she tried to grab the knife, he allegedly pushed her to the floor and said "Don't move or I will kill you!"
When she was thrown to the floor, the side of her neck received a small cut. She told emergency responders she did not need treatment, said a Kanawha County Metro 911 dispatcher.
Childress then allegedly held the knife toward Brittany Tackett, a clerk, and demanded the cash drawer.
Police responded at about 9:30 p.m. They were able to find the address of a woman seen speaking to Childress in the business earlier, and she provided them with his nickname, "Rob Bob," his address off Childress Road, and a description of his vehicle, a red Ford Ranger extended-cab pickup truck.
As police were on the way to his home, they saw the pickup and attempted to pull the driver over for defective equipment, the complaint states.
After following for several minutes, the truck stopped and they detained Childress. They arrested him after the alleged victims confirmed he was the suspect.
Childress was arraigned on Tuesday.
West Virginia State Police handled the investigation.
