CPD Uses Social Media to Nab Culprit

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – In less than 10 hours, the Crockett Police Department’s use of social media aided in the apprehension of a male suspect who robbed a Crockett convenience store on Saturday, Nov. 26.

The male suspect, who claimed to have a gun, robbed the SNS Express convenience store, located at 1500 E. Loop 304 in Crockett at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Officers with the Crockett Police Department were dispatched to the location and after they reviewed the store’s surveillance video, CPD released the suspect’s photo on the social media website Facebook and asked for the public’s assistance in identifying the perpetrator.

“The Crockett Police Department, with help from local citizens, the media and other law enforcement agencies were able to identify the suspect as 30-year-old Andrew Wayne Green from Crockett,” according to a statement from CPD Lt. Clayton Smith.

In the initial Facebook post and in Lt. Smith’s statement it was indicated after Green entered the store, he went over to the beverage cooler, selected a Smirnoff beverage, walked to the counter “… and handed the clerk a handwritten note that said ‘I have a gun! Put all the money in a bag or you will be shot. This is not a joke!!!’”

The clerk complied with the note and gave Green the money. Green then exited the store and entered a light-colored gray car described as possibly being a Nissan Altima. The CPD Facebook page indicated the clerk was able obtain a partial license plate number provided to law enforcement officials during their
investigation.

Armed with the photographic evidence which showed Green dressed in camouflage shorts, a black Hurley shirt, red/white tennis shoes and black socks, along with the partial license plate number, CPD detectives and Houston County Sheriff’s Office deputies began to track Green.

As the investigation unfolded, a phone call was received by the Crocket Police Department – at approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27 – which indicated Green was observed in the 200 block of West Houston Avenue.

“(The) Crockett Police Department and Houston County Deputies arrived at that residence and found Andrew Wayne Green standing in the front yard. Green was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Houston County Jail where he was booked and charged with robbery,” Smith stated.

At the time of his arrest, law enforcement officials discovered Green had attempted to alter his appearance by shaving his head and his beard. A gray Nissan Sentra was also discovered at the W. Houston Ave. location which matched the vehicle seen on the surveillance video.

The offense of robbery is considered as a second-degree felony. Under Section 12.33 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

“The Crockett Police Department would like to thank everyone who provided information in this investigation and the identification of Green as being our suspect,” Smith stated. “We would also like to thank the Houston County Sheriff’s Office for the assistance they provided in this investigation. With the help of everyone working together, including the media, we were able to capture this criminal less than 10 hours after he robbed the store. This is a good example of law enforcement, the media and our community working together and quickly identifying the suspect and getting him off the streets to keep our community safe.”

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].