Man accused of robbing College Park gas station twice arrested in Paulding

A man accused of robbing the same College Park gas station twice in 2019 was arrested in Paulding County on Thursday after running a red light.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

A man accused of robbing the same College Park gas station twice in 2019 was arrested in Paulding County on Thursday after running a red light.

A man accused of robbing the same College Park gas station twice was arrested in Paulding County on Thursday after running a red light in an Amazon truck, authorities said.

James Thomas Lewis, 26, was booked into the Clayton County Jail on two counts each of armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, online records show.

He is accused of holding up the BP station on West Fayetteville Road twice in 2019 — once in February and again in August, the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The first robbery occurred Feb. 26, according to police. Investigators said Lewis and another man entered the BP and the second man stood at the door. Lewis pulled out a black handgun, ran behind the counter and put the gun to the clerk’s back while forcing him to open the cash register, deputies said. The suspects eventually left the store but managed to make off with only about $100.

The second robbery occurred six months later when investigators said Lewis walked into the same gas station and forced his way behind the counter at gunpoint.

“The victim placed the money in a plastic bag as Lewis continued to push the victim around by the back of his shirt,” the sheriff’s office said. “Lewis then grabbed the bag of money and dragged the victim by his shirt to the front of the store before fleeing the location on foot.”

Investigators released surveillance photos and announced a cash reward following the second robbery. College Park police received a tip identifying Lewis as the suspect in both robberies, police said.

Lewis, who has a Nashville, Tennessee, address, remains held without bond at the Clayton County Jail.

In other news:

Credit: WSBTV Videos