Man wanted after armed robbery at Little River Circle K: ‘I need those cigarettes’

Little River, S.C. (WPDE) — Horry County police are asking for help identifying and finding a man who is believed to have robbed the Circle K at 1599 Hwy. 17 in Little River on December 26, 2017.

According to a police report, the man was last seen fleeing from officers in a dark 2003 Ford pick-up truck with a North Carolina tag.

An officer chased the man until he crossed the state line into North Carolina.

The chase started when the officer was told that a man in that truck had robbed the convenience store and made off with some items, the report stated.

According to the report, the man came into the store and asked to buy two boxes of Newport Cigarettes. But, when he went to use a credit card to buy them his card was declined.

He then asked for another pack of cigarettes and the clerk moved everything to the side of the counter.

That’s when the man put his hand in his pocket “in the appearance of brandishing a concealed pistol,” and then stated “I need those cigarettes,” according to the report.

The clerk handed over the bag and watched the man leave the store and take off heading westbound on Highway 50.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (843) 915-8477 or email CrimeTips@HorryCounty.org.