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Monday, March 18
The Indiana Daily Student

Police arrest man for tobacco store robbery

A Bloomington man was arrested at about 8 a.m. Sunday for Saturday’s armed robbery of Karton King Discount Tobacco and Liquor Store, located at 2475 S. Walnut St. Pike.

The suspect, Scott Afanador, 35, was arrested for allegedly demanding the store clerk empty her cash register. Afanador is being charged with armed robbery, a Class B felony, and criminal recklessness, a Class D felony.

No one was injured in the robbery, BPD Sgt. Faron Lake said.

At about 2:56 p.m. Saturday, Afanado allegedly entered the tobacco outlet, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk.

At first, Lake said, the tobacco store employee challenged Afanado, believing the gun he carried was fake. But she proceeded to empty her drawer when Afanado allegedly shot the firearm at the ground.

After obtaining the cash, Afanado allegedly ran out of the store and fled in a blue Chevy Aveo, which was hidden in a wooded area during the altercation. Lake said officers collected evidence, including a 9mm shell casing.

Afanado remained at large Saturday evening. Sunday morning, officers searched for the Chevy Aveo.

After identifying a matching vehicle, Lake said a BPD officer performed a traffic stop at the Village Pantry at 275 E. Winslow Road. The driver of the vehicle also matched the description of the robbery suspect, Lake said.

Performing a search on the vehicle, the officer discovered a High Point 9mm semi-automatic handgun, matching the shell casing obtained by police as evidence.

— Mark Keierleber

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