Arthur W. Writesel, Jr.

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GALLIPOLIS — A Gallipolis man has been charged in connection with a Sunday-afternoon armed robbery of a convenience store located in the City of Gallipolis.

Arthur W. Writesel, Jr., 26, Gallipolis, was arrested on Sunday afternoon, November 18 by deputies with the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly fled the scene of the robbery at the Par Mar store located at 56 Vine Street in Gallipolis.

Officers with the Gallipolis Police Department responded to the store after receiving word of the robbery at approximately 1:42 p.m. on Sunday.

An assailant, armed with a knife, reportedly entered the store, brandished the weapon and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Employees with the store gave officers a description of the male suspect, and a passerby provided a description of a vehicle — including a partial license plate number — that the assailant was seen entering after fleeing the convenience store on foot.

Shortly after the robbery was reported, a vehicle matching the description of the one seen by witnesses was stopped by a sheriff’s office deputy on Ohio 554.

According to an official with the police department, three male suspects were inside the vehicle at the time of the stop, including a male who matched the description provided by store employees.

All three individuals were detained and transported to the Gallipolis Police Department for questioning.

Following an investigation, the male suspect identified as Writesel was arrested and later charged with aggravated robbery as a result of the incident.

The two other individuals located in the car at the time of the incident were questioned and released and, as of press time, charges had not been filed against them.

Writesel is currently being held in the Gallia County Jail awaiting his initial court appearance in the Gallipolis Municipal Court before Judge Margaret Evans.