August 31, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
After more than a week since the incident, Smithville Police have made an arrest in an attempted armed robbery at a local convenience store.
Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said 26 year old Joshua Beckham has been arrested and charged in the case. Chief Collins said he will have a further statement with more details later but that police recovered shoes, gloves, and the knife believed to have been used in the crime. He praised his detectives for solving the case.
Police believe Beckham walked into the business on East Broad Street Wednesday, August 21 brandishing a knife apparently demanding money from a woman who he thought was an employee. But he fled on foot without taking anything after the woman told him she did not work there. The man was reportedly dressed in black and had a stocking over his face. There were apparently no injuries. Police and others conducted a search immediately after the incident but could not find the man.
Because of the close proximity, both Northside and Smithville Elementary Schools were placed on a soft lock down but classes remained in session.
Schools dismissed on time and students at Northside and Smithville Elementary were escorted to their buses by school staff.