Police: Man is robbing businesses, forcing women to take off clothes

Police are offering a $1000 reward for information on a man who is robbing businesses and forcing woman to take off their clothes. Both happened at businesses along Highway 5 in Bryant.

"We want to get this guy caught before it escalates into something worse," says Capt. Phillip Newcomb, Bryant Police Department.

Bryant police say the same man is likely responsible for robbing three woman at gunpoint while he forced them to take off all of their clothes at two businesses. "At gunpoint, [he’s] telling them to take off their clothes, forces them in the back room, lay down, count and then runs out the back and the front," explains Newcomb.

The first one happened at Euphoria Salon just before noon Thursday while a woman worked alone. Police tell us a masked man walked in with a gun and demanded money.  He got away with cash from the store and the victims jewelry including her wedding ring.

"As soon as it happened, she got her clothes on and scurried over here frantic and wanted to get out of here," says David Crews, owner of Bryant Music Center. "My mom calmed her down, decided they should lock themselves in the back until the police got here." Crews’ store is right next door to the salon. "I was really frightened because my mother was working for me. I had a dentist appointment. The first thing that crossed my mind is that could've been my mother."

Then Monday night around 9:00, it happened again at the Dollar General about a mile from the salon. It was the same situation - armed masked man walked in demanding money and forceed the two women working in the back told them to take off their clothes. This time, he got away with a cell phone and cash.

"We are very concerned. We want the information to get out," says Newcomb.

Police are urging businesses to be on alert and take extra precautions.

"We've added a panic button to our security system, a silent alarm to basically alert the police. We got a gun, so we have a few forms of personal protection," explains Crews.

We talked to the Euphoria Salon owner who says stylists now keep the front door locked at all times and are updating their security system.

Right now, police are not releasing if the women were sexually assaulted. If you have any information, call the police at 501-847-0211. A one thousand dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of this person.