A masked gunman brandishing a large knife robbed the Calhoun’s Country Store at 6650 N. Cleveland (SH 321) in Dayton on July 11 around 9:50 p.m. After entering the store, the suspect reportedly grabbed one of the clerks on duty and demanded that the other clerk hand over the money in the register, authorities say.
“During the incident, a TDCJ officer, on the way to work at the Hightower Unit, had walked into the store. The TDCJ officer immediately exited the store, went to their vehicle, locked the doors and called 9-1-1,” said Dayton Police Capt. John Coleman.
As the suspect fled the store, the TDCJ officer reportedly followed him at a safe distance, providing police with a direction of travel and clothing description. Sgt. Danny Carr arrived on the scene and located the suspect in a small wooded area near the store with the assistance of Corp. Kevin Theiss with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect is identified as Matthew Walker, 34, of Dayton. He is charged with Aggravated Robbery, a first-degree felony. He is being held in the Liberty County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
According to Coleman, officers recovered the money, weapon and mask that Walker reportedly wore to commit the robbery. Walker is currently on parole and is a registered sex offender, Coleman added.
As a precautionary measure, Liberty County EMS evaluated the medical condition of the two clerks at the scene. Neither was transported to a hospital.