A 31-year-old man was taken into custody on Tuesday after an armed robbery at Austin’s downtown Royal Blue Grocery.
Incident
The robbery occurred on Nov. 11. Police said the suspect entered the store holding a gun, showed it to employees and demanded money before leaving.
Arrest and Charges
The Austin Police Department’s Violent Crimes Task Force and Robbery Unit detectives carried out an operation on Tuesday that led to the arrest of 31-year-old Tice Covey Porterfield. He was taken to the Travis County Jail and charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, a first-degree felony.
Owner’s Response
Royal Blue Grocery owner Craig Staley said he trains employees to comply for their safety and changed his stores’ policies to prevent future armed robberies. “We took all of our stores cashless the very next day,” he said. “If people want to steal from us now, it’s gonna be a beer at a time, a bottle of wine at a time.”
Key Takeaways
- 31-year-old Tice Covey Porterfield arrested for armed robbery.
- Owner moves all stores to cashless to deter theft.
- Porterfield charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, first-degree felony.
The incident highlights the city’s ongoing efforts to curb armed robberies in downtown retail locations.
