Man suspected of robbing gas stations at knifepoint arrested

Update: Police arrested John Wesley Tillman Monday afternoon in connection to the gas station robberies. Tillmas will be charged with 7 counts of robbery, 6 counts of theft of property, 3 misdemeanor charges of theft, and 1 count of possession of a controlled substance.

Tillman pleaded not guilty and was given a $250,000 bond. The judge ordered that he have no contact with the stores if he makes bond. The case was sent to Pulaski County Circuit Court and his next court date is March 22.


LITTLE ROCK, AR - At least four Little Rock gas stations were robbed at knife point Saturday, and now police think the crimes are all connected.

Monday, Little Rock detectives went back to the four gas stations to gather more clues.

In surveillance video from the first gas station that was hit, you can see the suspect rush behind the counter at the Mapco Express on West 65th Street around 5:00 Saturday morning with a knife. He cleaned out the register.

Employees tell us he got $38.

The man ran out of the gas station with the cash from the register, and then the employee says she saw him run through a huge hole in the fence next to the gas station to get away.

Thirty-four minutes later, the same man robbed the Shell on South University by pointing a knife at the employee before grabbing him and pulling him to the register. The attacker then emptied out the register and took off.

Just after noon, the Valero on South University became the third gas station hit Saturday, but this time, the man had a knife and a gun. Again, he got away with money.

And, eight hours later, around 8:30 at night, the man hit the Superstop on Colonel Glenn demanding money from the registers. After getting the cash, the man dragged the employee toward the door before taking off, wrapping up a 15 hour crime spree.

If caught, the suspect faces several aggravated robbery and theft of property charges.