(KMOV)-- A man has been charged in a robbery at the Farm Fresh Store in East Alton on Sunday.
Christopher Tate, 32, of Staunton, IL, was charged with Armed Robbery and Robbery.
Authorities said two store clerks told deputies that a white male came into the store and told them that he needed money from them. The suspect told the clerks that he did not have a gun, but “four black guys” were outside and they did have guns. The clerks turned over a small amount of money to the suspect. The suspect then fled out of the store on foot.
Anonymous tips were called into police after the information reached the public. Tate’s name was given to detectives as a person that might be responsible.
Detectives gathered information on Tate and found that he had two outstanding traffic warrants out for his arrest in Madison County, Illinois. Detectives located Tate in Hartford, Illinois on Tuesday.
Tate was taken into custody on the outstanding warrants and was transported to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives questioned Tate about the robbery and obtained sufficient evidence against him to hold him in the Madison County Jail pending formal charges on the robbery. Tate had been staying in the East Alton area recently. Tate acted alone in the robbery.
Bond was set at $150,000.
