JONESBORO, Ark. — A man appeared in court on Wednesday in Jonesboro for his bail hearing after police say he attempted to rob a Dollar General on East Johnson Avenue near Farville Curve while employees and customers were inside.
Tyrell Lashun King, 27, of Blytheville, was arrested after Jonesboro police say he entered the store armed and tried to force employees to open the safe as several customers looked on, according to a statement posted to Facebook from the Jonesboro Police Department at 9:38 PM on August 24, 2025.
Delta Squad Officers Ben Bass and Scott Martin responded quickly and arrested the suspect inside the store as the robbery was unfolding, police said.
No employees or customers were injured.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on August 24, 2025, JPD responded to Dollar General in reference to a robbery in progress. Officers encountered King and ordered him to the ground. He dropped something that looked like a handgun. He was taken into custody.
Officers spoke with witnesses and reviewed camera footage. King can be seen entering the store wearing a ski mask and gloves, locking the door behind him. He interacts with several customers, and they all leave the store. King is seen with what appeared to be a weapon, and was later found to be a set of Allen wrenches opened and wrapped in a material to appear like a handgun.
King allegedly forces the employees to open the safe. The employee enters the code to the safe but due to a timer being on the safe, they are forced to wait. During this time. King forces an employee to empty the cash register into a red bag he brought inside.
A short time after this is when officers arrive and arrest King.
The police report showed that officers retrieved several items belonging to King: the wrenches resembling a handgun, a red DoorDash bag, black rubber gloves, a black ski mask, and black sunglasses with the word “Yum” on them.
After he was arrested, police say King refused to tell officers who he was.
A temporary bond was set for King at $750,000. On Wednesday, Judge Tommy Fowler set the actual bond at the same amount. King faces charges of attempted aggravated robbery, a Class Y felony, first-degree kidnapping, a Class C felony, and obstructing governmental operations for refusing to provide information.
King also refused to speak to the judge in court on Wednesday. Initially, King gave two thumbs up, acknowledging the judge, but when the judge asked him what that meant, he refused to respond. King never said a word during the entire hearing.
Delta Squad Officers are on scene of the Dollar General on East Johnson, near Farville Curve after an armed suspect entered and attempted to rob the store. The suspect tried to force the employees to open the safe while several customers watched. Officers Ben Bass and Scott Martin arrived quickly and were successful in arresting the suspect inside the store, as the robbery unfolded. All employees and customers were unharmed.
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Why come to Jonesboro to rob a Dollar General? Blytheville must have at least a couple of DGs.