Rockmart police have charged a man in a Thursday, Sept. 13 incident where money was stolen from a local store, according to a police official.

Kenneth Scott Gamel Jr., 22, of 129 Hogue Ave., Rockmart, was arrested yesterday afternoon on

Burglary

Clearwater St., and is charged with second-degree burglary and theft by taking, according to reports.

Gamel remains in the Polk County Jail.

Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said the incident happened around 1:07 p.m. at the Tobacco Mart on Goodyear Avenue.

He said the store clerk was vacuuming and left Gamel, who was a customer, unattended. Sorrells said Gamel allegedly jumped the counter, went to a backroom, found money, took it and ran out of the store.

“We knew who it was for the get-go,” Sorrells said, adding that Gamel was caught on video inside the store. “We just had to find him.”

Carwash robbery

A male victim reported a separate and unrelated robbery incident at 11:25 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, on Elm Street.

Sorrells said the incident reportedly happened at a car wash, locally known as the old Duke’s station, across from Rose Hill Cemetery.

According to the victim, three men in a black Ford Explorer came by and “hung out” with him. However, the victim told police he didn’t know the men or their identities, Sorrells said.

The victim told police a man hit him in the head with a gun and the trio robbed him. He also said one shot at him as they ran.

Sorrells said the man does have a lump on his eye, but no other injuries.

A possible tag number was given to police, but it came back as being registered to another type of vehicle.

Police didn’t find any evidence of a shooting and no one in the area reported hearing shots. However, someone turned a .40-caliber shell into police later that was reportedly found at the scene.

Police are investigating.