Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader announces that the getaway driver in the robbery occurring at TJ’s Liquor Store late last month has been arrested.
26 year old Tommy Lee Wilson, Jr., has been taken into custody and charged with Party to a Crime/Armed Robbery – in addition to a number of other charges including Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act/Meth, Possession of Marijuana (less than one ounce), and Possession of Drug-related Objects.
The Sheriff’s Office developed information leading to Wilson’s probable involvement in the January 26th armed robbery. Law enforcement officials then went to Wilson’s Summerville residence, where they found the vehicle used in the incident.
Someone had removed a luggage rack from the top of the Dodge Durango – apparently in an attempt to somewhat disguise the vehicle. The rack could be clearly seen in the surveillance video taken from the scene that day.
After obtaining a search warrant for the home, they also managed to locate several articles of clothing worn by 42 year old James Tyrone Carmichael of Rome, during the robbery; plus other items associated with the incident.
According to Sheriff Shrader, Wilson eventually admitted to being involved in the crime.
Carmichael and another suspect, Jake Skuse, age 26 of Leesburg, Alabama, were arrested on January 31st at the Carousel Inn located in Trion; at that time Carmichael was charged with two counts of armed robbery and Skuse was charged with one count of armed robbery.
Both men were charged with several other offenses – including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine.
Since that time, Carmichael has also been charged with committing two armed robberies in Floyd County – at the Garden Lakes Food Mart on January 25th and at A-1 Food & Beverage also in January.
Sheriff Schrader says that the investigation into the armed robbery occurring at TJ’s Liquor Store is ongoing and additional arrests are expected to be made in connection with the case