Arby’s armed robbery suspect arrested in Gulf Shores
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with information and quotes from the Gulf Shores Police Department.
GULF SHORES, Ala. (WKRG) — The suspect in a recent Arby’s robbery has been arrested, according to the Gulf Shores Police Department.
On April 28, GSPD officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Arby’s located at 1515 Gulf Shores Parkway, according to a Facebook post.
When officers arrived, they learned that a male, identified as 23-year-old Preston Hope Northan of Fairhope, had entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at an employee, demanding money and car keys, the post said.
“A person had come into the restaurant and pointed a handgun at one of the employees and demanded cash and car keys,” Gulf Shores Police Department Detective Carl Wittstruck said.
Northan reportedly fled while the clerk notified her manager about the incident.
He then allegedly attempted to rob two patrons eating outside, though the post notes the customers did not comply, and Northan fled on foot.
“As he fled out of the building he encountered two patrons of the restaurant who were eating outside at the picnic tables, he pointed the weapon at them and demanded car keys from of the persons,” Wittstruck said.
Officers found Northan “minutes later” in the 1800 block of Gulf Shores Parkway, according to the post.
Northan had allegedly tossed the weapon used in the attempted robberies, police said.
The weapon, described as a BB gun that resembles a semi-automatic pistol, was found by a GSPD K9, according to the GSPD.
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“Our Gulf Shores Police Department K9 unit was able to go out and do an area search looking for the weapon, which they did locate, and it turned out the weapon was a BB gun that looked like a semi-automatic pistol,” Wittstruck said.
Northan is no stranger to law enforcement around Baldwin County. He was previously charged with robbery, burglary, assault and reckless endangerment back in 2019.
News 5 also confirmed that he pleaded guilty to burglary and received a 20-year sentence, of which 15 years were suspended. He was just released from that five-year sentence on April 21.
Northan was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery.
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