K-9 Brita and her handler
Officers were called to the store around 12:39 a.m. after reports of a disturbance and a possible armed robbery. Police said a white male, identified as Joshua Shane Carrell, was involved in a dispute and chased two women inside the store. The women were able to lock themselves inside a restroom to protect themselves.
According to police, the suspect produced a knife and made verbal threats to retrieve a gun, with a witness reporting that he claimed the store was being robbed. The suspect then fled the scene on foot toward a wooded area behind the Quality Inn.
Magee police, assisted by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office, established a perimeter and held the scene until a Magee Police Department K-9 unit arrived. K-9 Officer Brita and her handler tracked the suspect’s scent into the wooded area and located him a short time later, police said.
After officers issued verbal commands, the suspect surrendered without incident. He was taken into custody and transported to the Magee Jail, where he was processed.
Police credited the store clerk for remaining calm during the incident and praised the coordinated response by officers on scene, including the K-9 unit.
