Gainesville Police arrested a man accused of robbing a Dollar General on Saturday night.
Melvin Roberts, an eight-time-convicted felon in Florida, was charged with two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Around 11 p.m., Roberts, 53, allegedly went into the Dollar General, located on 2400 SE Hawthorne Road, with a handgun, according to the arrest report.
He was wearing white gloves and had a black hoodie pulled over his face to hide his identity. Two employees were standing behind the front register when Roberts walked up, according to the report.
He allegedly pointed the gun at them and said “Open the register,” “Hurry up” and “You got two seconds.” The victims opened the register, and Roberts grabbed the money out of it.
Roberts fled after taking the money, according to the report. A law enforcement officer stopped him a short distance away while he was hiding in the bushes.
When the officer approached him, Roberts spontaneously said, “I didn’t have a gun when I stole the money,” according to the report. When he was searched, the officer found a white glove and $161.
The victims and a witness identified Roberts as the suspect from the robbery, according to the report.
Roberts remains in Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $750,000 bail.
Follow Devoun Cetoute on Twitter @Devoun_Cetoute and contact him at dcetoute@alligator.org.
