Published: February 13, 2008 09:00 pm      

McDowell: Two arraigned in late night armed robbery

WELCH — Two people were arraigned Wednesday on charges of armed robbery in connection with an incident at a McDowell County convenience store.

Jerry Keene, 40, and Elizabeth Blankenship, 48, both of the English community, were both arrested and charged late Tuesday night with armed robbery and conspiracy, Chief Deputy Mark Shelton of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department said.

Shelton said Deputy M.K. Shelton and Deputy T.E. Vineyard were dispatched Tuesday evening to a report of an armed robbery at the Hillbilly Market in English. Shelton said a man entered the store, produced a firearm, and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash Shelton said the man attempted to conceal his face with a pair of underwear. However, witnesses were still able to identify the man, which led to the arrest of the two individuals later Tuesday night.

“What happened is the female subject went into the store about four or five minutes before the male subject — I guess to check who and all was in the store,” Shelton said. “As she came out, he entered the store, produced a weapon and demanded money from the cash register. The clerk gave it to him and he fled the store.”

Shelton said the man and woman were located in the Bartley area a short time later and arrested without incident.

Shelton said money stolen from the convenience store was recovered.

Both Keene and Blankenship were arraigned before Magistrate Pete Beavers on the armed robbery and conspiracy charges Wednesday morning. Both were being held Wednesday at the McDowell County Holding Facility in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com