Reward offered for arrest of 53 Package robbery suspect

A reward is being offered for the arrest of the person who authorities say robbed 53 Package at gunpoint Wednesday night.

“We’re offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and formal charging of the person responsible,” said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs.

At about 9:20 p.m., “an individual entered 53 Package with a semiautomatic handgun … (and) pointed the semiautomatic at the clerk and demanded the money in the register,” explained Butler County Chief Deputy Wes Popp, who indicated there were no customers in the store at that time.

The clerk, Popp said, handed over an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect, believed to be a white male, was inside the store less than a minute before fleeing on foot, Popp said.

“He was last seen running down Highway 53 toward the McDonalds area,” Popp said.

The suspect, Popp said, reported to have been wearing a dark-colored hoodie, jeans, sunglasses and a face covering.

On Thursday, Popp said, investigators “followed his path and collected some dropped bills.”

Popp said investigators also looked at video surveillance from the surroundings businesses and residences.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 573-785-8444.