Stealing suspect tackled by witness, arrested

A suspect was in custody Thursday afternoon facing felony stealing charges after assistance from a witness.

According to Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker, the department received a call from an employee of the Country Mart Gas Station on North Washington Street about 3 p.m. on Thursday.

According to the chief, the employee told the dispatcher she had just ended her shift and was walking to the [Country Mart] store office to return the money and receipts while carrying her granddaughter in her arms.

At that time, the report states the employee was approached by what she believed to be a black male, wearing a dark colored shirt and hat and reported she had been robbed.

“The suspect demanded the bank bag and forcibly took it from her, almost causing her to drop the child,” Baker said.

The suspect, later identified as a white male, ran from the scene – heading east on Colorado Street.

Baker said a witness, Charles Ogden of Farmington, observed the incident and followed the suspect with his vehicle. The report states Ogden then exited his vehicle and tackled the suspect to the ground until officers arrived.

“Following a short struggle with the suspect, officers took the suspect into custody,” Baker said. “The bank bag – with an undisclosed amount of currency – was recovered.”

The suspect, 30-year-old Kyle D. Hallin of Farmington, had an active probation and parole warrant with no bond. Hallin was transported to the St. Francois County Jail. The department is requesting charges with the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s office of felony stealing-class D, endangering the welfare of a child, along with two counts of resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

Baker explained until a recent changes in statutes, the charges would have been for second-degree, or strong-armed, robbery.

“For this to be a second-degree robbery, the person that the property was forcibly taken from – the victim – would have had to have been also injured,” he explained. “Since she was not injured, it then goes to a felony stealing.

“And then, when you’re looking at a felony stealing, you’re looking at the amount that was stolen … this particular amount of money [taken] would have fit under the Class D statute of stealing, which is over $750.”

Baker expressed his appreciation on behalf of the department to Ogden for his assistance.

“A lot of people won’t do that,” he said. “I’m not saying that a person should do that – but, since he did do that I want to let him know we appreciate it.”

A robbery suspect is quickly apprehended following a robbery call from Country Mart in Farmington about 3 p.m. on Thursday. Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker credits a quick-thinking witness with help in apprehending the suspect.

Shawnna Robinson is the managing editor of the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-518-3628 or srobinson@farmingtonpressonline.com