VIENNA — Police are searching for more information about a suspect who robbed the clerk of the Wash Bowl convenience store at gunpoint Friday night at approximately 9:25.

According to information provided by the Vienna Police Department, a black male entered the store located at 426 E. Union Street and made off with an undisclosed amount of case. Investigators have been reviewing footage of the incident that was caught on surveillance cameras and are developing leads.

“At the time of the initial call, it was dispatched as a general alarm call. Some of my officers and myself were on a security detail at the high school football game, but officers working the streets were on the scene within one minute of being dispatched,” said Vienna Police Chief Jamey Reed.

Reed said a language difference may have given the suspect a jump on investigators.

“When I arrived at the scene I discovered there had been a communication barrier between the clerk and the first responding officer,” Reed explained. “The clerk was unable to convey to the officer that a crime had occurred and he didn’t seem to be under any duress or appear to be upset when the officer asked if everything was ok.

“Footage from the camera inside the store showed the officer telling the clerk he was there about the alarm call and asking if everything was ok,” Reed added. “The clerk only nodded and didn’t make any hand gestures depicting a gun, nor did he point to the cash register in an effort to let the officer know something was wrong. It wasn’t until several minutes later when the owner of the store arrived that we found out there was indeed a robbery. This gave the suspect a significant head start on us.”

Reed asked that anyone with pertinent information about the case call the Vienna Police Department at 229-268-7033. All calls will be kept strictly confidential, he said.

In the meantime, Reed is patting Officer Cal Scarborough on the back for making an arrest in four burglaries of the American Legion Hall located at 419 Coney Road. The first burglary took place in June of last year.

Scarborough charged a 15-year-old juvenile with burglary in the cases, where the goods stolen included money, beer, sodas and other items. Reed said information from an informant along with evidence recovered from a more recent burglary of the facility in August led Scarborough to question the juvenile.

Reed said the juvenile admitted his guilt to officers last Friday and was ordered detained by officials from the Cordele office of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

“The investigation continues and more arrests could result based on the information received to date,” Reed said. “I want to commend Officer Scarborough for his diligence in pursuing these cases in a thorough and professional manner.”