COVINGTON, Ga. – Less than 48 hours after he allegedly robbed a Dollar General on Highway 278, a Gum Tree Court man was arrested for the crime by Covington police.

According to a press release by Covington Police Department Capt. Ken Malcom, 52-year-old Charles Thomas Williams was arrested Dec. 7 after a traffic stop on Salem Road with the assistance of the Georgia State Patrol.

“Thanks to the quick response by our patrol team and a thorough investigation of all of the evidence by our detectives we were able to identify the suspect. The Georgia State Patrol assisted CPD with surveillance of the area where the suspect lived and together located the offender today driving on Salem Road,” Malcom wrote in Friday’s release,” This dangerous armed robbery suspect was arrested without incident and is now off of our streets.”

Williams allegedly went into the Dollar General at 6185 Highway 278 Dec. 5 just before 9:30 p.m. and grabbed one of two employees by his shirt, pressing what was thought to be gun against the back of his head. 

After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, he reportedly forced both employees to the back of the store before leaving at 9:31 p.m.

According to CPD, the surveillance video showed that Williams did not have a gun but did portray having one by pushing his finger or a knife against the back of the victim’s head.

Williams is currently jailed charged with armed robbery and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime.