Joseph Collins (left) is led by Delta, one of the Delta K-9 unit's search and rescue dogs, as Rex Collins (right) looks on. Delta K-9 was called in to assist the Bolivar County Sheriff's Department Wednesday afternoon in the search for a suspect who reportedly robbed the Winstonville Post Office.
At approximately 3 p.m. on Wednesday, a clerk from the Winstonville Post Office called the 911-dispatcher and reported that she had been robbed.
When deputies from the Bolivar County Sheriff's Department arrived on the scene, the unidentified clerk provided them with a detailed report of what happened, including a description of her assailant.
"The clerk stated that a black male between 5'5" and 5'9" tall and wearing a light blue sweatshirt and black pants entered the post office with a hood over his head and a bandanna covering his face," said Chief Deputy Gerald Wesley Jr. "The clerk also stated that the man pulled a knife."
According to the report, the clerk said that the suspect tied her up with a rope and duct-taped her mouth while demanding her to lie on the floor.
Wesley said that the suspect fled on foot with a money order machine, a small amount of cash and three pre-printed money orders.
Authorities contacted the Delta K-9 unit to assist in the search for the suspect but no one was immediately found or taken into custody.
The incident is still under an active investigation.
Sheriff Kelvin Williams Sr. and Wesley are asking that anyone with information on this crime to contact the Bolivar County Sheriff's Office or the Cleveland-Bolivar County chapter of CrimeStoppers.
"If you have any information on this, or any other, crime we ask that you contact the Sheriff's Department at 843-5378 or the Cleveland-Bolivar County chapter of CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS," said Wesley.
"All caller identities will be kept anonymous and any information given that leads to an arrest may qualify for a cash reward," Williams added.