The Selma Times Journal

The Selma Police Department arrested Eric Todd, 26, of Selma on Tuesday in connection with a couple of recent strong-arm robberies. The most recent was the burglary of a local businessman at a convenience store on the corner of Broad St. and L. L. Anderson Ave. According to police reports, the victim, who requested anonymity, had $2,000 in cash stolen from him.

According to officials, they received the call about the robbery Tuesday morning and had Todd in custody by that afternoon. Investigators from both the Narcotics and Detective division assisted with locating Todd.

Of the detective and narcotics division, Selma Police Chief Jimmy Martin said, “I’d size them up against any agency in the state for just doing down-home police work. There’s not enough I can say about how proud I am of them.”

Todd is your typical drug abuser who went on a crime spree, noted Martin. Once captured, he confessed and detectives recovered the victim’s wallet from a residence on Lauderdale St. Todd then told detectives he used the money to buy drugs and solicit prostitution.

In addition to the wallet theft, while in custody, Todd was picked out in a photographic line up by a couple of ladies who had their purses snatched Sunday, Feb. 13 and faces charges for that crime.

The investigation into Todd and other “persons of interest” implicated in area robberies is ongoing. “Other charges (for Todd) are pending and additional arrests related to this case may be made,” said Martin.

Local citizenry also got involved in helping police solve the case and Martin commended them for their efforts.

Police are closing in on suspects in the recent robbery of a local Girl Scout troop in the Winn-Dixie parking lot on Dallas Ave. According to police reports, the thieves, who were driving a gold Toyota Camry, pulled up to the Girl Scout cookie stand. Then, one of them got out and snatched the bank bag holding the money they had raised. They sped off and on their way out sideswiped a truck.

Currently, police are investigating “person’s of interest” and Martin said police are “confident we will make an arrest in a timely fashion.”

The people under investigation do not live in the city of Selma or Dallas County. However, Martin indicated they will not elude the long arm of the law. “Our detective division will do whatever it takes to bring these people to justice.”