By By Lydia Grimes and Andrew Garner
It takes a keen eye and alertness to your surroundings to be a good policeman. Brewton has added some new people to the police force in the last few months, but none may have found the first day of work to be as exciting as Officer Jake Bailey did one day last week.
Thanks to the diligent eye of the off-duty Brewton Police Department officer, an Andalusia man wanted in connection with the April 18 robbery of a convenience store in Andalusia was apprehended Friday.
Benjamin James Bradley, a.k.a. &#8220Tie-Dye,” 33, was apprehended outside of the Minute Stop Station in East Brewton after going in to buy a drink on Friday afternoon.
Bradley was wanted in Andalusia for allegedly robbing the Herndon Oil station and fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. Bradley was also wanted by the Alabama Probation and Parole Board for violating parole.
Bailey had just gone off duty on his first day when he saw Bradley using a telephone outside the East Brewton convenience store. Bailey recognized Bradley from a photograph that he had seen at the police station.
Bailey called the BPD and the East Brewton Police Department, and they apprehended Bradley.
Sgt. Eric Suarez, investigator with the Brewton Investigation Unit of the BPD, said that at 12:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon the suspect was brought into custody.
Bradley was then taken to the Escambia County Jail in Brewton.
Bradley is being charged with robbery in the first degree and theft of property in the second degree. If convicted, both carry felony charges.
APD Lt. Mike Bowlan and Sgt. Paul Dean drove to Brewton and transferred Bradley to the APD for booking.
Bradley was taken to the Covington County Jail and held without bond.
Suarez said that Bradley is fortunate that he was caught without further incident.