Customer reportedly threatens employee at Dollar General in Westville
May 14—An employee of the Dollar General at 519 N. State St. in Westville was threatened Tuesday morning by a customer suspected of attempting to steal from the store.
"They (the employee) just asked if he was going to pay for what was under his coat, and he told them that he had a gun and they should just leave him alone," said the store manager who was on duty when the incident occurred.
Though the employee was shaken, the man didn't actually brandish a firearm, the manager said. Instead, the suspect fled out of the store. No other customers were in the store at the time.
According to the manager, someone in the parking lot heard what happened and came inside to check on the employees. The witness claimed to have seen the suspect run into the wooded area just south of the store, according to the manager.
Westville police were dispatched to the scene to collect statements. In response to the possible threat, Westville schools went into a soft lockdown to protect students. Once it was confirmed that the area was safe, the lockdown was lifted, around 12:40 p.m.
Westville Police Chief Justin Varvel said a suspect was apprehended and taken into custody Wednesday morning. The name of the suspect has not been released pending formal charges.
Though schools reopened and resumed regular operations, the Dollar General location remained closed Tuesday afternoon, according to the manager.
