The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff Reports

Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:43 PM
Weather Local Our View State National World Faith

LOCAL: Johnson City Police Say Man Surrenders To Police Outside Store He Robbed Minutes Earlier
Police in Tennessee say a man allegedly told a convenience store clerk he had a gun and was committing a robbery, then asked her to call police and went outside to wait for officers to arrive.

The Johnson City Press reports 55-year-old Jay Payne was charged with attempted robbery Saturday.

Police said in a news release that the suspect, who was hiding his hand behind his back, told the store clerk he had a gun and was there to rob her. He then told the clerk to call 911. He then waited outside before surrendering to police.

Payne was being held on $50,000 bond in the Washington County Detention Center pending an arraignment hearing Monday.

Jail records didn't indicate whether Payne has an attorney.