Springfield woman charged, accused of robbing two local convenience stores in two days

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

A Springfield woman, accused of robbing two area convenience stores in two days, has been charged.

Erin Cole, 31, appeared in Clark County Municipal Court on Thursday on charges of two counts of aggravated robbery, resisting arrest and failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer. She was given a bond of $20,000.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, Springfield Police Division officers were dispatched to Cold Spot Two in the 700 block of Selma Road on Tuesday in reference to a robbery at the business. When officers arrived on the scene they interviewed an employee who said she was working when a coworker told her “a suspect a had gun and wanted the money from the register.”

“(The victim) stated she observed the female had her right hand inside of a sweatshirt and she could see the grip of a handgun,” the affidavit said. “(The victim) advised the suspect told her ‘give me all the money or I’ll shoot her (the other coworker).’”

The two employees gave the woman the money and she left the area.

Officers collected video footage from surveillance cameras and were able to identify the vehicle’s make and model, but not the license plate number, according to the affidavit.

On Wednesday, officers received a call about a robbery at Speedway in the 1100 block of North Limestone Street. Employees at the convenience store gave officers a similar story as the Cold Spot Two employees, stating that a woman came into the store with her hand hidden in her hoodie pocket and threaten to shot them if they did not give her money, according to the affidavit.

“Ms. Cole informed (employee) that if she didn’t give her all of the money she was going to shoot her,” the affidavit said. “(Employee) proceeded to empty the register drawer and handed the money to Ms. Cole. Ms. Cole turned and left the business, at that time (employee) initiated the hold-alarm and called 911.”

Because the Speedway employee pulled the “hold-alarm” officers were able to quickly pull live video footage of the suspect fleeing the convenience store. The suspect then led officers on a chase to the south end of town, where the pursuit ended at S. Western and Jefferson, the affidavit said.

“The suspect pulled the vehicle to the north side of the curb on Jefferson St. and attempted to flee on foot. Officers left their vehicles and pursued her on foot. Officers observed the suspect reaching toward her waistband as if to conceal a weapon. Officers caught up to the suspect and were able to detain her,” the affidavit said.

Officers located $404 in the suspects’ front coat pocket and an additional $33 was located in the passenger seat of her vehicle, the affidavit said. Cole, later identified as the suspect, admitted to officers she was the “sole perpetrator” of both the Speedway and Cold Spot Two robberies shortly after being arrested.

“Ms. Cole denied possessing a handgun, but admitted that she put her hand inside her coat pocket and pointed her fingers to look like a gun, stating to the employees of both businesses that she would shoot them,” the affidavit said.

As of Thursday afternoon, Cole was listed as an inmate in Clark County Jail.

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