Attempted Sunday beer buy turns criminal

By Kristi Swartz and Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Construction worker Robert Keefer Dell wanted a six-pack. But the calendar -- and the law -- wouldn't cooperate.

Dell got his beer. He also was charged with several felonies after threatening a cashier with a gun and striking a patrol car while trying to flee, police said.

On Sunday, like he does on most days, Dell walked into Sanky's Citgo in Canton, greeted store clerk Mario Mateo with the regular "hey, what's up" and walked back to the coolers.

Mateo said he assumed his customer, who he describes as a regular, must have forgotten it was Sunday -- a day the state prohibits alcohol sales.

But Dell ignored the neon orange tape stretched across the coolers containing alcohol, ripping it down and grabbing a  six pack of Michelob, Mateo said. He plopped $6 on the counter and began to walk out.

"I said ‘Man, it's Sunday. I can't do it, I'll get in trouble,'" Mateo recalled.

Dell argued with the clerk for a moment and then walked out with the beer, police said.

Mateo chased after him. That's when Dell lifted his shirt, revealing a handgun tucked in his waistband, police said.

Mateo backed off and called the police as Dell drove off.

If he had just taken the beer, Dell would have been charged with shoplifting, Canton Police Detective Alan Rivas said.

But showing the handgun raised the stakes, police said, bringing the charge to an armed robbery, a felony.

And that was all before he drove into Pickens County, leading deputies on a chase that left one county car wrecked, police said.

Georgia State Patrol and Pickens officers attempted to stop Dell, but he continued to flee. He struck a patrol car and attemped to run over an officer, Rivas said.

Dell was eventually captured when troopers rammed his truck. He was taken to the Pickens County jail, where he is being held on charges of DUI, fleeing police and aggravated assault. He also faces a warrant for armed robbery in Cherokee County, Rivas said.

"I can't believe he did all this for a six-pack of beer. He could have went to the Mexican restaurant down the street," said Mateo, a father of three. "He didn't stop to think about his family."

Mateo said he would have sold the beer, but was scared that the business would lose its liquor license. Getting caught selling on Sunday could mean losing the store's liquor license or the cashier being arrested, police said.

Mateo said he routinely gets customers who want to purchase beer on Sunday, but they usually put it back when he tells them about the law. Once, a teenager swiped an 18-pack of beer on a Sunday, but the clerk said he managed to open the car door and snatch the beer back.

Rivas said people try to buy alcohol at convenience stores on Sundays fairly regularly. Sometimes they swipe a six-pack and run, police said.

But never has Rivas dealt with someone having a gun, as well, he said.

Mateo said he knew something was wrong when he saw Dell stumbling around the aisle and then when he grabbed the Michelob -- he usually buys Natural Ice. Dell also didn't hand over enough money for the six-pack, which costs $8.99, Mateo said.

"The good thing is they got him and nothing happened to me," said Mateo, 31. "He might do it to someone else just so he could get a drink."