A Memphis man is facing an attempted aggravated robbery charge after police say he walked into a Family Dollar in the 2600 block of James Road on Thursday afternoon, pointed what appeared to be a revolver at a clerk, then bolted into the parking lot where members of the Tennessee National Guard stopped him until Memphis police arrived. The 33-year-old was arrested and booked into the Shelby County Jail.
According to WREG, an affidavit states the clerk told officers the suspect came in holding a black revolver and demanded money from the register. The clerk reported she could not open either the register or the safe, so the man ran out of the store, moved into the parking lot, and approached a vehicle while waving the weapon. The affidavit says that is when National Guard members intervened and detained him until Memphis police took him into custody.
National Guard presence in Memphis
The Tennessee National Guard has been part of a wider crime-fighting push in Memphis this year, working alongside local law enforcement on patrols and operations, according to reporting by the AP. Officials have often described Guard members as extra “eyes and ears” while the Memphis Police Department handles arrests and investigations. The highly visible deployment has drawn support from some city and state leaders and concern from community organizations about troops operating in residential neighborhoods.
Charges, bond and court date
Memphis police booked 33-year-old Marland McDowell on a charge of attempted aggravated robbery, and he is being held at the Shelby County Jail, WREG reports. His bond was set at $55,000, and court records show he is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning. Investigators later determined the object he displayed was a pellet gun, according to the affidavit cited by WREG.
What the law says…