By Lee Trawick
Riverbend News
Late in the night on Thursday, Nov. 4, a patron concealing a knife entered the SunStop located at 6674 US Hwy 129, near I-10, in Live Oak. The patron then brandished the knife to the store clerk, demanding money. The clerk complied and the suspect fled the scene in a black vehicle. Officers then arrived on-scene, at which time they gathered evidence and took down the vehicle's description. Less than 48 hours later, a deputy with the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) located a vehicle fitting the description.
As the deputy tried to perform a routine traffic stop, the vehicle began to flee, igniting a multiple county high-speed chase. The pursuit of the suspect ended in Madison County, after deputies with the Madison County Sheriff's Office were alerted by both the SCSO and the Department of Agriculture that the suspect was entering their jurisdiction. Upon bringing the vehicle to a stop, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and took his chances on foot. However, the Madison County deputies quickly apprehended the suspect.
The suspect was later identified as 31-year-old Edward Hamilton from Leon County. Hamilton was booked into the Madison County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding law enforcement. The armed robbery of the SunStop, however, is still under investigation by the SCSO. Hamilton is a person of interest concerning the robbery.