Man uses shotgun to rob Apple Springs Video store, suspect still being sought
Groveton News - October 2007

GROVETON – Sheriff’s deputies were following up leads this week in search of a suspect in the armed robbery of an Apple Springs video store.
According to Trinity County Sheriff Steven Jones, the robbery occurred about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, when a masked man entered the Videos and More store armed with a shotgun.
“It all happened very fast,” Jones said. “He entered the store, he robbed the store, he tied up the clerk up and he fled.”
The sheriff said the bandit made off with a “very small amount” of cash and is believed to have fled the immediate scene on foot.
The gunman was described as being a white male with a thin build and was between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black ski mask.
While the suspect in the robbery remained at large this week, Jones said an arrest was made during the course of the investigation on unrelated charges.
Marchall Whipple of Apple Springs was taken into custody on Wood County arrest warrants charging him with burglary of a habitation and arson. Bonds totaling $120,000 were recommended by Wood County authorities on the two charges.
Jones said investigators received a tip suggesting officers might want to talk to Whipple about the video store robbery.

“While he did match the description we had, I believe we have now ruled him out as being a suspect (in the armed robbery),” Jones said.
However, during a routine computer check of Whipple’s criminal history, Jones said officers discovered the Wood County warrants.
Jones noted he does have additional leads regarding a possible suspect in the case.
The sheriff added he also has been in contact with investigators in Angelina County regarding the possibility the Apple Springs video store bandit also might be involved in a robbery of a Lufkin convenience store.
“The convenience store was robbed about an hour and a half after the Apple Springs robbery,” Jones said. “A shotgun also was used in the Lufkin robbery.”
Because of the close proximity in time and the use of a shotgun in both robberies, investigators were looking for other possible connections between the cases, Jones said.
After the robbery was reported, Jones said a number of deputies were called to the scene to search for the suspect and were quickly joined by Pct. 4 Constable Kent Blanchard.
“I also paged the members of the Apple Springs Volunteer Fire Department to be on the lookout for the suspect and gave them the description,” he added.