Thunderbolt police are looking for a man they say robbed an American Legion post and hit a bartender Saturday night.
The bartender opened the back door to air cigarette smoke from American Legion Post 36 at 2309 Victory Drive in the small town about 8:19 p.m. Saturday when the incident began, said Thunderbolt Police Chief Bob Merriman. Then, a man jumped a fence, came inside the facility and robbed the bartender’s person before taking money from the cash register and a safe, Merriman said.
During the robbery, the man was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and at one point struck the bartender with his fist, the police chief said.
After making off with an undisclosed amount of money, the man fled back over the fence. Police called in a K-9, and the man was tracked by scent to a nearby canal where the trail was lost, Merriman said.
Merriman said the man appeared to be familiar with the location that was robbed.
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation artist provided Thunderbolt police with a sketch of the suspect. Police describe him as a 20-24-year-old light-skinned black man who stands 6 feet to 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 150-160 pounds. He was wearing a white tank top, black shorts and white tennis shoes, police said.
Investigators ask anyone with information on the case or the suspect to call Thunderbolt police at 912-354-3818 or CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020. Tipsters to CrimeStoppers remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.